RECENT POLICY IMPACT
Policy Impact
Maryland Essentials for Childhood values all legislative, executive and judicial action that works to improve our systems and provides guidance to our agencies. We believe that every policy we set should promote healthy development and reduce unnecessary burdens on children and the adults in their lives.
Three recent successes that demonstrate that impact:
- Time to Care Act of 2022
- The Child Victims Act of 2023
- Healing Maryland's Trauma Act of 2021
The Child Victims Act of 2023
Statute of limitations removed for child sex abuse claims
The effort to pass the Child Victims Act took years of tenacity and courage on the part of survivors of child sexual abuse. Under the leadership of Maryland Essentials for Childhood and Justice4MDSurvivors, a volunteer-led group of survivors, advocates, organizations, and legislators advocated to create legislation that provided access to justice for survivors of child sexual abuse and prevents child sexual abuse from happening in the first place.
The new law eliminates the statute of limitations for civil child sex abuse claims and opened a permanent revival window. That provides adults who were hindered by past statutes, the opportunity to file suit when they are ready. Civil cases provide the public with a greater level of disclosure to the public, not only about suspected abusers but about the institutions who could have prevented the abuse from happening.
This legislation provides another opportunity for public and private institutions to revisit their policies and procedures for the prevention of child sexual abuse. It also provides an opportunity to hold accountable the failures of those same institutions who did not do enough to keep children safe.
Kathryn Robb
Executive Director Child USAdvocacy
The Maryland Child Victims Act is one of the best in the country because it not only affords justice to all survivors but also protects children in the future.
The Child Victims Act is spearheaded by
Time to Care Act of 2022
Paid Family and Medical Leave
Under the leadership of Maryland Family Network and other key organizations, the Time to Care Coalition brought together individuals, organizations and legislators who advocated for years to build consensus for a piece of legislation that would positively impact families for generations.
Maryland Essentials for Childhood and our partners were proud to be members of the coalition and add our voices and efforts to making paid family leave a reality in Maryland.
The new law creates an insurance fund to provide partial wage replacement for workers taking time away from jobs to care for new babies, loved ones with serious health conditions or disabilities or themselves.
We know that paid leave for new mothers is a contributing factor to improved mental and physical health outcomes for the mom and the new baby.
Paid leave benefits families allowing time for social and emotional connection in those first weeks together as a family.
Ashely Schappell D'Inverno, PhD
Division of Violence Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Paid parental leave can reduce financial stress, allow parents to focus on bonding with their child, and increase gender equality when fathers have more time to participate in childcare duties.
All of these positive effects trickle down to benefit the child and the family as a whole.
The Time to Care act is spearheaded by:
Healing Maryland's Trauma Act of 2021
Commission on Trauma-Informed Care
In 2021, then Governor Larry Hogan issued an Executive Order on Adverse Childhood Experiences.
May 6 is Adverse Childhood Experiences Awareness Day
Commission on Trauma-Informed Care
In the same month, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation establishing the Commission on Trauma-Informed Care.
The Commission’s role is to coordinate a statewide initiative to prioritize the trauma-responsive and trauma-informed delivery of State services that affect children, youth, families, and older adults.
In 2022, Governor Wes Moore became the first candidate nationwide for high-level political office to create a campaign platform on ACEs and trauma.