CPMC Spotlight: Judith Schagrin

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 health resources too often leads to an over-reliance on the child welfare system. Through her work, she has helped policymakers and stakeholders better understand the unique needs of these young people and the importance of building systems that truly support them.

Judith received the news that she had been selected by the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Maryland as the recipient of the 2026 Paula Hamburger Champion for Children award while walking her dogs —a fitting and humble moment for someone whose career has been defined by tireless advocacy.

Over the course of her career, Judith has witnessed shifts in child welfare and behavioral health. When asked how the landscape has evolved, her response was that child welfare has increasingly become responsible for out of home care resources for high intensity and complex behavioral health needs. Another constant? “No new resources. More paperwork. The fix to every problem in child welfare is another requirement and of course the forms to go with it." At the same time, in child welfare practice she highlights a meaningful cultural shift in adoption. Where adoption was once rarely discussed, it is now more open and widely embraced rather than kept a secret.

Throughout her career, Judith has worked across the child welfare spectrum as a licensed certified clinical social worker, ultimately retiring as Assistant Director for Foster Care and Adoption Programs in Baltimore County. She continued her work part-time for four years as a public policy analyst with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services and as an instructor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

Among Judith’s meaningful contributions is Camp Connect, which will mark its 26th year in 2026. Co-founded by Judith in 2001, the program reunites siblings who have been separated in foster care. This week-long overnight camp gives brothers and sisters living in different foster homes the opportunity to spend meaningful time together. Building memories through activities like horseback riding, swimming, arts and crafts, and campfires. For many children, it is a rare chance to simply be siblings again.

The impact of Camp Connect is deeply emotional for both the children and the volunteers who support it. As Judith has shared, the goal is to create lasting connections that extend far beyond a child’s time in foster care, helping preserve one of the most important relationships in their lives: their bond with their siblings.

After more than three decades in this emotionally demanding field, Judith remains motivated by the children and families she serves. She also finds hope in the growing collaboration among advocates like the Coalition to Protect Maryland’s Children.