Multicultural leadership team with hands together in circle
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LEADERSHIP ACTION TEAM

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 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."

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."

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.”

Infographic showing EFC organization with backbone orgs, leadership, and workgroups

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.

Our standing workgroups:

  • Community Engagement and Public Awareness 
  • Programs and Systems Integration 
  • Public and Private Sector Policy & Financing Solutions 
  • Shared Data and Outcomes 

If you would like to join a work group, please contact a member of the Advisory Committee for next steps. 

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