Our Collaborative Efforts
Maryland Essentials for Childhood (EFC) is a volunteer-led organization open to partnering with individuals, organizations and agencies that support our mission and goals.
The individuals serving on our Leadership Action Team have committed to leading our organization into its next stage of growth.
Chair
Wendy G. Lane
Chair
She/Her
Director, Preventive Medicine Residency Program
University of Maryland, School of Medicine
Wendy's past experience as the Chair of the Maryland State Council for Child Abuse and Neglect, and her current role as Chair of the Foster Care and Child Maltreatment Committee for the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics simply add to her wealth of professional experience as a pediatrician.
Wendy lives in Pikesville with her husband of 25 years and stays connected to her two grown sons, one in college and one in the working world.
Why is working collectively important to the work at EFC?
"There are so many organizations, groups, and individuals doing wonderful things to help prevent child maltreatment and improve the well-being of children. None can do this on their own, but if we work synergistically, we can limit redundancy and build on what others are doing to effect meaningful change."
Members
Quinton Askew
Member
He/Him
Consultant
Quinton brings his experience in the nonprofit and government sectors to the organization, along with his commitment to serving as an advisor to the Howard County Opioid Crisis Community Council and the Founder of Conscious Minds Foundation.
Quinton lives in Gwynn Oak with his twins, a boy and a girl.
He is the Executive Director of Ohana of Howard County (OhanaHC) and former President and CEO of the Maryland Information Network, which powers 211 services in Maryland.
What's one thing you wish you'd known when you first became a parent?
“I wish I had known the importance of self-care. Taking care of myself allows me to be a better parent. I wish I had known that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. Building a support system is crucial in navigating the challenges of parenthood. Finally, understanding the importance of being flexible and parenting. Every child is unique, and you must be adaptable."
Kenyn Benjamin
Member
He/Him
President & CEO
The Maryland Information Network
Kenyn brings over two decades of experience in public-sector human services with a focus on ending homelessness and connecting individuals to essential needs. He's a strategic leader who drives meaningful change with his passion for innovation, digital advancement, and strategic growth in the nonprofit sector.
With a comprehensive background in strategic planning and advising, organizational development, business architecture, and project management, he knows what’s needed to redefine what’s possible for an organization to create meaningful community impact.
Kenyn builds resilience in his own life by creating structure amid chaos, whether through music, routines, or reflection. It keeps his mind steady so he can operate under pressure. He's actively involved in the Business Architecture Guild and is a musician.
Kenyn’s childhood in East Baltimore, where co-op gardens and the Shares program were a vital food resource for his family and neighbors, anchors his dedication to community-centered solutions. He brings that lived experience to his work at Maryland Information Network, which powers 211 services.
What excites you about brain science and teaching resilience?
"Brain science gives people language for what they've lived through. It turns survival into something understandable, and resilience into something teachable."
Stacey Brown
Member
She/Her
Executive Director
The Family Tree
Stacey brings a depth of knowledge and experience in child abuse prevention, parenting support services and community building through her career in the nonprofit sector. She is currently the Executive Director of The Family Tree, which is also the Maryland Chapter for Prevent Child Abuse America. In addition to her leadership at The Family Tree, Stacey is also a member of the Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children and the State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect.
Stacey lives in Middle River with her family and enjoys being a soccer Mom and staying connected to her high school alumni association.
What are some things you do to build resilience in yourself?
"In order to build and maintain resilience, I practice self-care which includes meditating and utilizing my support system."
Edward "Ted" Gallo
Member
He/Him
Executive Director
State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (SCCAN)
Ted's experience as a certified social worker and his leadership with SCCAN put him at the forefront of issues impacting Maryland's children and families. SCCAN is an advisory board that makes recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on policies and training to prevent child abuse and neglect. Ted is dedicated to strengthening systems and building a safer, more responsive child protection framework through public policy, child welfare, and community engagement.
He lives in Chestertown, the smallest county in Maryland (Kent County), with his wife of 25 years. They have three children, including identical twin boys.
Ted is active in his community, having served on the Historic District Commission and currently serving on the Chestertown Ethics Commission.
What's one thing you wish you'd known when you first became a parent?
"As the parent of a child with special needs, I wish that I had known how difficult it can be to get services. I wish that I had known where to get help. I wish that I could go back in time and tell myself that everything will be okay with the supports that we put in place ourselves."
Frank Kros
Member
He/Him
President
Kros Learning Group
Frank is an award-winning public speaker, trainer, and change agent who educates adults on childhood trauma and resilience. He is a skilled child advocate with experience practicing child custody and juvenile law, an author, a visionary leader, and he's passionate and committed to improving services for traumatized children on the local, state, and national levels through Kros Learning Group.
He was selected as an Adverse Childhood Experiences Master Trainer for the state of Maryland (ACE Interface), provided expert testimony on childhood trauma to the United States Senate, and received the 2025 Unsung Hero award from The Family Tree for certifying trainers for Maryland's ACE Aware Project.
Frank lives in Fallston with his wife, Shawn Reagle Kros, and is the proud father of two adult children and a volunteer for The Highlands School and SARC (Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center). As a public speaker on resilience, in between his busy travel schedule, Frank builds his own resilience by gardening, exercising, reading, and practicing mindfulness.
What excites you about brain science and teaching resilience?
"The fact that resilience can be taught! Through consistent, intentional practices, adults, communities, counties, and states can dramatically boost the resilience of their children and youth."
Mitchell Y. Mirviss
Member
He/Him
Partner
Venable LLP
Mitch brings his extensive legal expertise and his passion for serving the needs of children in foster care to Maryland Essentials for Childhood. His passion for serving others includes providing pro bono services to thousands of Baltimore City foster children in a long-standing federal class action that started in 1988.
Mitch and his wife live in Montgomery County and have two adult children.
Learn more about his work as a Partner at Venable here.
Why is working collectively important to the work at EFC?
“One of the main reasons we haven’t achieved the policies and programs we know will work is that we are too siloed and stuck focused on our own priorities and issues. We are much stronger when we collaborate.”
Emeritus Members
Patricia Cronin
She/Her
Retired
Former Executive Director, The Family Tree
Pat brings decades of expertise to the organization, having been at the table since Maryland Essentials for Childhood’s inception in addition to the leadership she provided at The Family Tree for 25 years prior to her recent retirement.
Pat lives in Lutherville and is a mother of two and grandmother of two.
What excites you about brain science and teaching resilience?
“The field continues to be new and exciting. I think back to how I was trained as a social worker on the causes of mental illness and the blame that was placed on families, particularly mothers. The research and development of brain science and resilience has transformed medicine. The more we learn, the more relief and hope we can provide to people. We have the tools we need to foster understanding and impact lives.”
Claudia Remington
She/Her
Retired
Former Executive Director, Maryland State Council on Child Abuse & Neglect
Claudia brings her extensive consensus-building and policy expertise to Maryland Essentials for Childhood as a mediator, attorney, and the former Executive Director of SCCAN. Claudia’s service to children and their families over decades includes volunteering for Stand for Children and serving as a CASA as well as an ACE Interface Master Trainer.
Claudia lives in Edgewater with her white lab Chloe and has two adult children.
Why is working collectively important to the work at Maryland EFC?
“The PACEs science is clear about what children need to thrive. Effectively promoting healthy child development and preventing ACEs will require a statewide public-private, cross-sector plan that is grounded in PACEs science. We owe it to our children and future generations to work together to make that plan and its implementation a reality.”
Joan Stine
She/Her
Retired
Former Director, Center for Health Promotion, Education, and Tobacco Use at the Maryland Department of Health
Joan continues to bring her expertise in public health as well as attachment theory and practice to Maryland Essentials for Childhood where she served as Chair for the last decade. She counsels and provides Circle of Security-Parenting trainings for parents and community health educators; and serves on the board of the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women.
What’s one thing you want to teach your great-grandchildren?
“You’ve got great and wonderful things ahead of you. Just learn to roll with the punches and all will be well.”
Workgroups
The collective work of Maryland Essentials for Childhood (EFC) is made possible through the generous donation of time, expertise and passion of our partners.
We work together at our Maryland Essentials for Childhood bi-monthly meetings and in workgroups to provide the opportunity to look thoroughly at issues and make recommendations based on science, data and the needs of Maryland’s children.