ANNAPOLIS, MD -- Today, the Governor’s Office for Children (GOC) announced the launch of the Maryland New Parents Guide at
maryland.gov/new-parents, a comprehensive, one-stop resource hub designed to connect expecting and new parents with essential state resources to help support their families. The guide is a central component of the Moore-Miller Administration’s mission to increase economic mobility for families by ensuring every child in Maryland has a healthy start.
The guide serves as a virtual "one-stop shop," organizing state resources by life stage to allow parents to find what they need based on their immediate situation. Rather than navigating a patchwork of separate websites, parents can now find information on healthcare, food assistance, childcare subsidies, home visiting programs, and more in one place.
“Welcoming a child should be a moment of joy, but without adequate access to support and resources, starting or growing a family can be an economic hurdle,” said Governor’s Office for Children Special Secretary Carmel Martin. “This 'one-stop shop' compiles resources across the state and makes it easier for families and new parents to access critical resources. By streamlining access to these critical supports, we can boost economic mobility for families and make government work better for Marylanders.”
The guide was assembled with the input and guidance from numerous state agencies participating in the Maryland Children’s Cabinet. Its contents were also informed by frontline staff who work directly with young families and families in communities across the state. In addition to the online version of the guide, which is also optimized for mobile use, state agencies, including the Maryland Department of Health, will distribute printable copies of the guide will be distributed to meet families where they are, to locations such as hospitals, Patty Centers, and local departments of social services.
“Ensuring every family has access to helpful information and reliable support is essential to their success,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “This new guide serves as a vital bridge for families and caregivers from pregnancy through early childhood, making sure that essential healthcare, nutrition, and early education resources are always within reach to support them at every step.”
The launch of the online New Parents Guide is part of the Moore-Miller administration’s work to help Marylanders better access critical benefits, services, and resources by improving State’s digital services. Earlier this year, Governor Moore announced a fully rebuilt
Maryland.gov – an accessibly-designed platform to help Marylanders more efficiently engage with the State’s most frequently used resources, including job and career support, food and nutrition benefits, and unemployment insurance. Maryland also previously announced the
Maryland Benefits One Application, a mobile-friendly tool that helps eligible Marylanders apply for vital benefits like SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid.
For more information or to access the New Parents Guide, click
here.
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