Below are legislative measures the coalition was tracking this session. The Maryland General Assembly met from January 14th to April 13th. To see the PowerPoint presentation of our legislative debriefing, click here. The positions of CPMC as a coalition are listed in blue (support, support with amendments, oppose, letter of information provided). Bills without positions were monitored allowing CPMC to later take a position if needed. Each bill number is linked to the webpag

by Elizabeth DiTargiani, CPMC public policy intern April 30, 2026 I recently sat down with coalition member Mary Jo Buchanan to discuss the structure and effectiveness of New Jersey’s Mobile Crisis Response system. Mary Jo previously served as the Executive Director of Ocean Partnership for Children in Toms River, New Jersey, where she spent nearly a decade supporting youth with behavioral health, substance use, and developmental needs up to age 21 through care management ser

by Elizabeth DiTargiani, CPMC public policy intern April 6, 2026 All four of the Coalition to Protect Maryland’s Children (CPMC) priority bills have officially passed the Maryland House of Delegates and are on their way of moving through the Senate. This marks a significant moment in the 2026 legislative session, one defined by an increased urgency for reform surrounding Maryland’s foster care system. This heightened urgency comes from real cases that are not only devastatin

by Elizabeth DiTargiani, CPMC public policy intern March 18, 2026 One word to describe Judith Schagrin is "firecracker". From the moment you meet her, you can feel her passion for advocating for children and families - especially youth in the foster care system with behavioral health needs. With more than 30 years of experience in Maryland’s child welfare system, Judith’s impact has been profound. Her advocacy has helped raise public awareness about how a lack of behavioral h