Group of community members working together
Maryland Essentials for Childhood Favicon

HOW WE WORK

Our Process

EFC recognizes that our vision for a state where all children, youth and their families thrive in safe, stable and nurturing relationships and environments will take action across multiple public and private systems to achieve. That’s why our work relies on collaboration and a common agenda to lead our conversation and chart our path forward.

Collaboration

Working across sectors, from government to nonprofits, higher education to community-based advocacy groups, Maryland EFC recognizes the importance of having opportunities for everyone to participate in the process. By encouraging and welcoming a wide range of voices to be heard, we are making recommendations based on science, guided by research and informed by lived experience. 

There are issue areas where EFC provides leadership in making policy recommendations, advocating with legislators, and building a coalition of partners. There are other times when EFC lends expertise to other organizations and makes introductions to thought leaders from around the country. Our process allows us to be responsive in the moment, to lead when needed and to walk alongside others in collaboration.

Legislators gathered at EFC award ceremony

Common Agenda

Maryland Essentials for Childhood efforts follow these guiding principles:

1. Ensuring safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments

so all children and families can meet their full potential as self-sufficient, socially engaged and productive citizens.

2. Sustaining a collaboration across multiple sectors

to conduct strategic and mutually reinforcing activities aligned to our common agenda.

3. Accomplishing our goals requires changes in multiple systems,

focusing on broad social and economic determinants, changing social norms and governmental and institutional policies.

4. Grounding systems change in the best availabile evidence

and continuously striving to improve the quality of programs, services and systems.

5. Providing culturally and linguistically congruent care

to those served within programs, services and systems.

6. Taking action to reduce inequities and disparities

that are avoidable, unjust and preventable in order to improve overall child health and well-being.

Chairman award

SCCAN & MD EFC Leadership Awards

Since 2019, together with SCCAN, EFC has issued awards to key individuals and organizations in the following categories for outstanding vision, dedication and commitment to ACE & Resilience Informed Policy: 

  • Legislator of the Year:
    2019 Delegate C.T. Wilson
    2020 Congressman Elijah Cummings, issued posthumously
    2023 Senator William C. Smith, Jr.
  • Community Partner of the Year:
    2018 The Board of Directors and staff of The Family Tree
    2019 The Board of Directors and staff of No More Stolen Childhoods
  • Advocate of the Year:
    2018 Frank Kros, MSW, JD
    2019 Joan L. Stine, MHS, MS
    2022 Wendy G. Lane, MD, MPH
  • In 2023 the Legislative Leadership Legacy Award was awarded to Delegate C.T. Wilson in recognition of his profound and unwavering support of children and commitment to seeking justice for survivors.