Baltimore awards $300K to expand parenting, childcare support

August 7, 2026 - 13:20

City officials have announced a $300,000 grant to The Family Tree, a local nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention and family well-being. The money will go toward expanding parenting classes, home visiting services, and childcare navigation for families in some of the city's most underserved neighborhoods.

The Family Tree plans to use the funds to hire additional parent coaches and extend evening and weekend hours for working families. The organization also intends to partner with community health centers to reach new parents who might not otherwise seek help. A key part of the expansion will be a new referral system that connects families with affordable childcare options within days of a request, rather than the weeks-long wait many currently face.

City council members who backed the allocation say the goal is simple: support parents before a crisis hits. "When a parent has a safe place to ask questions and get practical help, the whole household does better," said one council aide familiar with the project. The grant comes from the city's family stability fund, which was set aside in this year's budget for programs that reduce stress on caregivers.

The Family Tree has operated in Baltimore for over 40 years, but this is one of the largest single grants it has received from the city. Executive director Maria Thompson called the funding "a vote of confidence in preventive care." She added that the first new hires should be in place within 60 days, and that the expanded services will be available at no cost to residents. The nonprofit will track outcomes like school attendance and emergency room visits to measure whether the extra support makes a measurable difference.