ABSTRACT: The Baltimore County Office of Community Conservation, the Baltimore County United Way, Social Planning Concepts, the University of Maryland School of Social Work, and other community partners are joining together to plan for the design and implementation of Maryland Children’s Zones.  The proposed Children’s Zones will fill the gaps in currently available services and ensure that continuous and comprehensive supports are in place for children and families in discrete geographic areas in Maryland.  Maryland Children’s Zones will build on existing community strengths and services.

The Technical Assistance for Continuous and Comprehensive Services project is one portion of a larger feasibility study for Maryland Children’s Zones.  A research team of staff and students in the Ruth H. Young Center for Families and Children (RYC) at the University of Maryland School of Social Work will complete an assessment of the services that exist in southwest Baltimore County for children 0 to 5 years old.  The team will also review best-practices in neighborhood-based interventions.  Information will be analyzed to identify gaps in services in southwest Baltimore County and begin to describe key attributes that should be considered when designing the proposed Maryland Children’s Zones. The Technical Assistance project will synthesize information from local, state and federal agencies, existing children’s zones in other states, and research regarding effective models of neighborhood-based interventions to promote the optimal educational and social development of children in high-risk communities.

RESEARCH TEAM:

Diane DePanfilis, Ph.D., M.S.W. – Principal Investigator

Sarah Kaye Faraldi, Ph.D. – Co-Principal Investigator – Project Manager

Kristen Woodruff, M.S.W. – Project Coordinator, Graduate Research Assistant

Meredith Sullivan, B.S.W. – Research Assistant Scholar

Richard P. Barth, Ph.D., M.S.W. – Advisor

FUNDING SOURCE: Baltimore County Office of Community Conservation through support provided by the Baltimore County United Way and in-kind time contributed by faculty and students in the RYC

PROJECT DATES: November 2007 – April 2008