The Ruth H. Young Center serves Maryland’s children and families by developing and testing social work and interdisciplinary interventions for families and children at risk for maltreatment and related problems. RYC faculty and staff are currently engaged in the design and testing of child neglect prevention home visiting programs, school-based mental health services for African American youth, and family focused interventions for coping with community violence and trauma symptoms. Family Connections and Grandparent Family Connections are community-based, family strengthening outreach service programs designed to support families to meet the basic needs of their children. Services provided to families by social workers and social work interns enhance safety, permanency and stability, and well-being. At the same time these programs provide educational and practice experiences for social work students and other professionals. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its efforts to prevent child maltreatment, Family Connections is being replicated in multiple sites across the country. Overall, the RYC promotes the development and implementation of evidenced based practice with families and children. Some of these programs such as Family Connections and Grandparent Family Connections are University based; others are delivered through child welfare agencies or community based organizations and evaluated by RYC faculty. | 
(Summer 2007)