Program areas at Maryland Family Network
Mfn's Family support centers in local communities help children learn and help parents earn. The Network of 31 Family support centers serve over 3000 children and parents. Children ages birth to three years old experience high quality learning environments and their parents are supported in reaching their greatest potential through peer to peer learning opportunities and by finishing their education acquiring job readiness skills, building social networks and improving parenting skills. Over 350 Network center staff are provided with training and technical assistance to ensure that the workforce is equipped to meet the needs of families.
With strong advocacy and public policy presence at the local, state, and federal levels, mfn leads the charge for very young children and all those concerned with their well-being. The "blueprint for Maryland's future," legislation based on recommendations from the blue-ribbon kirwan commission, included vast expansion of public pre-k in schools and childcare programs, enhanced professional development for providers, new funding for the Maryland infants and toddler's program, and the creation of 125 new judy centers and 30 new Family support centers. It is a landmark legislative victory for mfn.
The Maryland child care resource Network supports childcare professionals through training and coaching services to support the accessibility of high quality care for young children. Child care resource centers conducted over 1,250 training workshops to over 18,000 participants for approximately 5,000 hours, supported access to almost 20,800 hours of asynchronous online training, and provided 3,650 hours of coaching and program support. Our locate: childcare service helps families recognize quality and find childcare to meet their needs. Through telephone referral services and on-line searches, locate: childcare helped families find care for over 10,500 children.