Advocates for Children and Youth, MD

To promote policies and programs that improve results for Maryland children in measurable and meaningful ways and to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and policies for the state's children and youth.

We Are ACY

ACY builds a strong Maryland by advancing policies and programs to ensure children of every race, ethnicity and place of birth achieve their full potential. Our work aims to improve the lives of Maryland’s 1.3 million children and 530,000 youth through policy change and program improvement. We advocate at state and local levels for policy and program changes, track data and hold agencies accountable for results, and ensure that all children and their families have sufficient and equitable resources and opportunities for success and receive appropriate services to address their needs. As Maryland is a racially and ethnically diverse state, we conduct all of our work with a rigorous race-equity focus that we sharpen every day. ACY determines our priorities based on two broad factors: empirical evidence supporting legislative or regulatory policies to achieve positive outcomes for children and youth, and our engagement with directly affected populations in communities across the State. We further develop our policy solutions and strategies in coalition with diverse stakeholders and organizations. We believe that any strong coalition must include not just the established non-profit organizations, but also local groups led by youth and/or people of color. Contact: jobsearch@acy.org

We work toward a Maryland where:

• Outcomes and access to opportunities for children across Maryland are not predicted by race or zip code; • Families and communities are healthy as well as adequately and equitably resourced; • Policies, programs, and institutions are appropriately implemented, funded and staffed, and accountable for strong results; and • Youth, families, and communities are driving the agenda and have the capacity to advocate for their needs. 

ACY Mission and Values

For over 30 years, ACY has served as Maryland’s only statewide non-partisan, nonprofit organization that works across all issue areas that impact a child’s life to close disparity gaps and improve outcomes for children and youth. ACY was founded in 1987 by a group of prominent community leaders who saw the need for an independent organization that would advocate for the state's children and families in the community, the media, and the public policy arena. ACY is the only organization working across these issue areas to address racial disparities and ensure a holistic approach to improve outcomes for children in every area of their lives. Our mission is to build a strong Maryland by advancing policies and programs to ensure children and families of every race, ethnicity, and place of birth achieve their full potential.

Advocates for Children and Youth is committed to a workplace where we: • Are driven by passion and purpose. • Act as a collaborative team. • Appreciate each individual. • Demonstrate integrity and trust. • Understand that we cannot achieve our mission without addressing systemic racism. • Are grounding our work in community. • Work hard but honor and care for ourselves.