Raising a child can be one safety scare after another. Here are some local and regional resources to help give parents, babysitters and family members peace of mind.
211 Maryland
Can help with teen and adolescent mental health, as well as support families with essentials like food, clothing, furniture and more for healthy child development
211md.org/resources/children-families
Baltimore Safe Kids Coalition
University of Maryland Children’s Hospital partnership with local fire and police departments, the Maryland Poison Center and area health departments to stop preventable injuries; focus on avoiding dangerous situations and injury-prevention strategies | umms.org/childrens/health-services/safe-kids
Center for Hope’s Child Advocacy Center
Nationally accredited children’s advocacy center that helps families affected by violence, trauma and abuse; 24-7 support, medical exams, treatment and counseling
lifebridgehealth.org/center-for-hope/child-advocacy-center
Child Justice
Primarily serving Maryland and the D.C. Metro area, this nonprofit offers pro bono legal services and resources to families in child custody or protective order cases
Harford County Sheriff’s Office Children’s Safety Program
McGruff the Crime Dog helps kids ages 4 to 8 with safety issues like dealing with strangers, gun safety, home safety, telephone use and bicycle safety.
harfordsheriff.org/youth/safety
Howard County LHIC
The Howard County Local Health Improvement coalition has online resources for injuries like dog bites, stings, drowning, falls, fires, playground safety, local prevention programs and more.
hclhic.org/healthy/injury-prevention
Kids in Safety Seats (KISS)
Maryland program funded by the Maryland Highway Safety Office which includes a reduced-cost Car Seat Assistance Program, helpline, assistance on what car seat to purchase, passenger safety classes, car seat checkup events and webinars offered monthly, including “Traveling Safely With Your Newborn”
Safe Kids Maryland
Statewide program based in Baltimore with local chapters in Baltimore and Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Washington counties. It provides car seat checkups, safety workshops and sports clinics to help prevent childhood injuries.
safekids.org/coalition/safe-kods-maryland
Maryland Center for School Safety
One-stop shop for information from state and national school safety organizations, with topics including bullying, substance use, gun safety, adult sexual misconduct, dating violence and more; includes podcasts on school safety topics
schoolsafety.maryland.gov/Pages/RES-Topics.aspx
Maryland Essentials for Childhood Hotlines
List of helplines and emergency numbers for parenting, breastfeeding, mental health, LGBTQ support, domestic violence, poison control and more.
marylandefc.org/grownups/hotlines
Maryland Youth Rights & Safety Hub
Organization focused on communication, information-sharing and media training to provide factual data about youth issues without perpetuating harmful narratives
