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Advocacy

ECSM’s advocacy work reflects that of the Diocese of Maryland and the Episcopal commitment to social justice and public policy issues before the Maryland General Assembly. Participating actively in this network will enable us to respond to our baptismal covenant to strive for justice and peace for all people.

ECSM’s advocacy work focuses on the issues that are most important to our program participants:

  • Affordable housing
  • Education
  • Universal access to healthcare
  • Reintegration services, both pre-and post-release from prison

 Legislation in the Spotlight

MD State Seal

Measuring the Impact of Homelessness on Preschool-Age Children

By the age of 3, children whose parents were professionals had vocabularies of about 1100 words. Children whose parents were on welfare had vocabularies of 525 words. "If poor children are going to catch up, they will require not the same education...but one that is considerably better; they need more time in class... better trained teachers and a curriculum that prepares them... intellectually for the challenges ahead of them." (Tough, Paul. "What it Takes to Make a Student." New York Times, 26 Nov. 2006.).

"Poor and non-poor children who fail to achieve their full academic potential are more likely to enter adulthood without the skills necessary to develop into highly productive members of society able to compete effectively in a global labor market. Less skilled, less productive, and earning less, when these children become adults they will be less able to contribute to the growth and development of the U.S. economy." (Lynch, Robert G. "Enriching Children, Enriching the Nation: Public Investment in High-Quality Prekindergarten." EPI, May 2007. 8.)

The Value of After-School Programs

More than anything else, the youth at The Club need an opportunity to break through the barriers of poverty. This is a complex and demanding task when working with highly at-risk students who live in communities that are saturated with the ill-effects of poverty. The ECSM and Club staff members have researched the best practices to enable our youth to break this poverty cycle. Research indicates that the most effective means of accomplishing this is through the acquisition of an education that will increase a person's earning potential. "Earnings for young adults increased when education level increased. For example, the earnings of those with a high school diploma decreased by $5,600 between 1980 and 2005, while the earnings of those with a bachelor's or higher degree increased by $2,300."

The after-school and summer camp program are designed to help youth enrich their academic learning through homework and tutoring help, but also through arts activities and especially field trips that enhance their knowledge of the Baltimore metropolitan area.

Rebuilding A Life After Incarceration

Preparing Baltimore’s ex-offenders for the demands of a knowledge- and skill-based economy is a challenging task. Each year, nearly 9,000 ex-offenders return to Baltimore City facing many concurrent problems: addictions, lack of housing, low-educational attainment and limited family support. One of the most difficult barriers to successful re-entry is sustainable employment.

Employment support services are crucial to formerly incarcerated persons. Job creation among the formerly incarcerated population is particularly challenging. Prior to prison, many men do not complete high school or hold sustainable jobs. While in prison, the use of technology flourished and imprisoned men were left behind to become part of the technological divide. After release, many men are not prepared to write a resume on a computer or respond to an on-line job listing. The Jericho Program seeks to provide rapid attachment to work services to formerly incarcerated men. There is a correlation between employment and staying out of prison. Studies have found that the combination of legitimate employment, positive social networks and daily routines are significant factors that boost employment and reduce recidivism. (Bloom, Dan. "Employment-Focused Programs for Ex-Offenders." MDRC. July 2006.)

Useful Links

  • Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
  • Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network
  • Episcopal Public Policy Network
  • Maryland General Assembly

    • Governor of Maryland

    Martin O’Malley was elected Governor of Maryland in November of 2006.
    Visit the Governor's office online »

    Mayor of Baltimore

    Sheila Dixon was elected mayor in November of 2007. She is is currently serving her first term.
    Visit the Mayor's Office online »

    State and Local Representatives

    State Representatives

    Who represents your county in the State Legislature? Find out »

    Local Representatives

    Contact a Maryland Legislator by their by council district.

    Additional Resources