Other Useful Public Policy Links:

Maryland State Department of Education:
For general information about MSDE, including contact information for the Superintendent and the State Board of Education, see http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/aboutmsde/About_Overview.htm. For general information about the Early Childhood Division, click here. From that page, you can move to the various activities supervised by that Division, including the Office of Child Care, the Early Learning Branch, etc., as well as to the forms and regulations related to child care and nursery school regulation, child care subsidies, child care credentials, including tiered reimbursement of child care subsidies, the Resource and Referral Network, the Family Support Centers, etc. There is also a Web page there for complaints and issues for the Office of Child Care's Ombuds person. MD AEYC is represented on MSDE's Early Learning Council and its Office of Child Care Advisory Council.

Governor’s Office for Children:
The Web site for the Governor’s Office for Children is http://www.ocyf.state.md.us/.

Maryland Committee for Children:
The MCC, in addition to managing the MSDE Child Care Resource and Referral Network, provides substantial support and information to the child care profession in Maryland. Not the least of this support is a Public Policy Department with several paid staff members, who actively lobby for better child care in Maryland. On Wednesdays each month except December, July and August, and sometimes even then, as well twice monthly during the legislative season from January to April, the MCC’s Public Policy Committee has an open meeting at its headquarters, 608 Water St., Baltimore, MD 21222, where most of those interested in child care in Maryland convene to learn about and discuss policy developments concerning young children in Maryland. MCC’s website is http://www.mdchildcare.org, its phone number is 410-752-7588, and the Public Policy Department is at extension 235. MCC has a capacity to collect and deliver e-mails on public policy issues to elected officials, and that Web site is at http://highqualitychildcare.org/naccrra_md/home.html. With MCC and several other Statewide organizations mentioned below, MD AEYC sponsors an annual Child Care Rally in Annapolis, usually on a Monday night in late January or early February, just when the General Assembly is beginning to consider what to do about the Governor’s Proposed Budget for the coming year, including its appropriations for children’s programs.

Advocates for Children and Youth/Maryland Children’s Action Network:
ACY and its grassroots organization, Maryland CAN, are broad-based children’s advocacy organizations on all public policy issues related to children. Maryland AEYC is a member of Maryland CAN. Maryland CAN’s Web site is at http://www.acy.org/mdcancoalitions.shtml. It can be reached at 410-547-9200. Maryland CAN has an Early Childhood Workgroup that meets occasionally on public policy issues relating to young children. Maryland CAN has an annual public policy priority-setting convention in the Fall, and a Children’s Legislative Action Day in January or February in Annapolis.

Maryland State Child Care Association:
MSCCA is an organization of child care centers in Maryland. Its Web site is http://www.mscca.org/1.html, and its office can be reached at 410-820-9196 or 877-820-9196, toll-free in Maryland. There is a page related to legislation on its Web site.

Maryland State Family Child Care Association:
MSFCCA is an organization of primarily Registered family child care providers in Maryland. Its Web site is at http://www.msfcca.org/, and its phone number is (240) 529-6556. MSFCCA’s Web site also has a public policy page. MSFCCA also offers low cost, guaranteed coverage health insurance to Registered family child care providers and center employees.

Maryland School Age Child Care Alliance:
MSACCA brings together those child care providers who provide care to school-aged children before and after school, and during public school holidays. MSACCA is still working on its Web site, but a call to 410-443-2719 might provide more relevant information about its activities, including public policy advocacy.

Maryland Head Start Association:
MHSA is composed of providers and parents involved in Head Start, a Federal early childhood education program, in Maryland. It promotes public policies at the Federal, State, and Local level to help children qualify for and benefit from the growth opportunities that Head Start provides. It is working on its Web site, and it may be reached through 410-685-1700.

Friends of the Family:
Friends of the Family is a Statewide organization that manages 26 family support agencies throughout Maryland under contract with MSDE, and provides training and associated support services for families with young children throughout the State. Its Web site is http://www.friendsofthefamily.org, and the phone number of its main office is 410-659-7701.

Ready At Five:
Ready at Five is a Statewide partnership that supports school readiness through training and publications, as well as by bringing together a variety of organizations and individuals to support this common goal. Its Web site is at http://www.readyatfive.org.html, and its phone number is 410-727-6290.

[top]