June 11, 2019
Media Contact:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-941
ELLICOTT CITY – Today, County Executive Calvin Ball announced that Howard County will receive $518,049 in grant funding from the Governor’s Office for Children and the Maryland Children’s Cabinet. The funds will go to the Howard County Local Children's Board, comprised of public and private members working collaboratively to ensure a strong continuum of services for families and children in our community.
“As Nelson Mandela said, ‘The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children.’ With the help of the Governor’s Office, Howard County is investing in the health, the education, and the future of all our young people,” said Ball. “I want to thank the Howard County Local Children's Board and the Governor’s Office for Children for their efforts to not only meet the needs of every child, but also give them the opportunity to discover their full potential. Our community is deeply appreciative of this state-level support and we will continue to collaborate on moving Howard County forward, building a brighter future for all.”
The funding for the Howard County Local Children's Board will provide support to important youth programs such as:
- Weekend Warrior Snack Pack Program: Offers youth in need, ages 18 and younger, a free bag of snacks every Friday over the summer month to provide nutritional food over the weekend
- Choice Jobs Program: Prepares Howard County youth for the work world via a supported employment model that delivers community-based vocational services that include a job readiness curriculum, individualized service planning and supported job placement
- Summer Scholars: A four-week summer program for middle school students focused on academic (primarily math and English) and social and emotional learning. Students receive breakfast, lunch and an afterschool snack as well as hands-on experiential learning opportunities
- Voices for Change: A youth program for middle and high school students where students identify issues impacting their peers and work together to develop strategies to address those issues with the support of adult mentors from youth-serving organizations
The Governor’s Office for Children works with State agencies and Local Management Boards to promote the well-being of Maryland’s children, youth, and families through data-driven policies and collective solutions. Read more about their work here.