Friends of the Family was awarded the most prestigious honor in the nation for publicly funded programs, the Innovations in State and Local Government Award. Bestowed jointly by the Ford Foundation and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the award recognizes ''Ten Shining Examples of Government at Its Best'' each year, and includes a $100,000 cash prize for each recipient.
Friends of the Family is one of only three Maryland initiatives ever to have won this honor. The selection process was one of intense scrutiny, including a two-day site visit from an expert in the human services delivery field, submission of two lengthy descriptive documents, and an oral presentation at the JFK School of Government to a highly esteemed panel of judges.
In granting the Innovations Award to Friends of the Family, the reviewers concluded that Maryland’s forward-thinking public/private/community partnership represents an important direction in the provision of preventive social services to high-risk families. They were impressed by the State’s use of an intermediary agency to represent the interests of Maryland government and its private sector partners, the focus on very early intervention with infants and toddlers, the comprehensive nature of Family Support Centers, and Centers’ ability to motivate parents to complete their education, seek employment, and strengthen their parenting skills.
Back to Honors
Innovations Award