Governor O’Malley’s Blog
A Fight to Survive
In this “People Behind the Policies” blog, the manager of a domestic violence program talks about a patient’s struggle to survive and reveals how it relates to our goal to reduce violent crimes committed against women and children by 25% by the end of 2012.
“A Fight to Survive”
What started as an argument about money quickly became a fight for her life. Jenifer found herself being beaten, strangled repeatedly, slammed into the wall and floor, and knocked unconscious. Dazed, Jenifer and her teenage daughter Katie first went to the police station and then to Northwest Hospital’s ER-7. There, Jenifer was identified as a victim of domestic violence, and an advocate from the Domestic Violence (DOVE) Program was assigned to her. The DOVE advocate explained to her and Katie what domestic violence is. Katie recalls, “That sounds kind of obvious considering what just happened to my mother, but it truly helped. Abuse goes a lot further than just putting bruises on another’s body.”
The police officer and DOVE advocate used a forensic light source to view underlying bruising resulting from the strangulation. They also took photographs of all her injuries. The Lethality Assessment Project – Maryland Model was used to determine that Jenifer was at high risk for being murdered. Therefore the advocate helped her and her daughter create an extensive safety plan. While still in the emergency room, the advocate let Jenifer know how to get a protective order and assisted her with the paperwork to get a temporary one. When Jenifer got a final protective order, the police confiscated her abuser’s gun, which turned out to be loaded. DOVE, the police and the legal system quite likely saved her life.
Over the next few months, DOVE coordinated with Jenifer, the police and the State’s Attorney’s Office to ensure Jenifer and her daughter were safe, and to make sure the abuser was held accountable. DOVE not only attended every court hearing, they also made certain that Jenifer had transportation. They made her aware of the new Rental Housing Protection law that allows victims to break their lease if they need to move for safety purposes. DOVE also helped Jenifer apply for Maryland Criminal Injuries Compensation to pay for her medical bills.
“[DOVE] didn’t just throw us pamphlets and brochures and expect us to make a life decision,” Katie says. “DOVE sat down and explained how to go about each process.” Whenever Katie and her mother found their strength wavering, they’d pick up the phone and call DOVE.
While Jenifer and her daughter first went to the police, research suggests that victims of domestic violence show up in hospitals more frequently than at police stations, courts and shelters. Victims may come to the hospital for medical treatment of their injuries, thinking the assault was a one time occurrence, or saying it “only happens when he drinks.” The hospital’s 24/7 setting provides a unique and ideal opportunity to intervene, educate and provide services to domestic violence victims. In addition to the services described, DOVE also offers immediate safe shelter, assistance with basic needs, group and individual counseling services, and more.
One year later, Jenifer is still healing from her injuries with surgeries and therapy. Katie is getting ready to go to college and wants to become an advocate for domestic violence victims. Katie says, “Talking to my mom, I have discovered that mothers often have a greater love for their children’s safety than their own.” Katie says she feels grateful for and inspired by the DOVE program. “My mother and I have gone through difficult times, but it gives my mom great satisfaction to know that I’ve learned from our situation … I know now what I will and will not put up with in a relationship. I strive to have healthy relationships with my friends, my family and my boyfriend.”
The Most Important Meal of the Day
In this “People Behind the Policies” blog, a Principal talks about his experiences with implementing breakfast within her school and how it relates to our goal to end childhood hunger in Maryland by 2015.
“The Most Important Meal of the Day”
Hunger is thought to be a third-world problem, but the reality that 1 in 5 American children struggles with hunger qualifies it as an all-too-real problem here in the United States as well. At Patterson High School we see it every day. Roughly 80% of Patterson High School students receive free or reduced lunch, and many students are very hungry throughout the school day.
Patterson started taking on the hunger issue the way we should start every day–with breakfast. Even students whose families are not struggling to provide food arrive to school without having eaten. Studies show that students who eat breakfast at school perform and behave better than students who skip breakfast at home. Moreover, breakfast-eating students are less likely to be overweight, more likely to be present and on time, and it improves the learning environment. With all of these facts out on the table it was obvious to us that Patterson High School would be serving breakfast this year. Thanks to Share Our Strength, the First Class Breakfast program was initiated at Patterson.
Every morning Patterson students engage in 500 Conversations, a homeroom-style period where students discuss a daily topic in efforts to make them not only scholars, but well-rounded adults as well. The cafeteria staff, HealthCorps coordinator, and Lifeskills program work together to deliver the First Class Breakfast program’s nutritious meals to each and every Patterson student, free, during the 500 Conversations period. At first students were hesitant to accept the milk & cereal or bagel & cream cheese with juice. They are now very eager to share the meal together. Students who previously ate nothing all day long now eagerly await the arrival of their in-class breakfast. The program has given students further incentive to attend the 500 Conversations period. Teachers believe that the program has improved performance, alertness, and participation in class. With hunger out of the way, students can now concentrate on their studies. Patterson High School is devoted to go beyond teaching ABCs and 123s, to empower Baltimore’s teenagers to be healthy adults who move on to positive futures. The First Class Breakfast Program, along with Patterson’s new lunchroom salad bar, is setting the tone for a newly healthy school environment that leaves no kid hungry, and all kids successful.
A Brighter Future for Maryland
In this “People Behind the Policies” blog, we hear from one of the founders of Maryland-based Astrum Solar and learn how their business relates to our goal to Increase Maryland’s In-State renewable generation 20% by 2022.
“A Brighter Future for Maryland”
You’ve probably driven past them and not even noticed. For the past five years, more and more citizens of Maryland have been putting solar panels on their roof and producing the power that runs their television, microwave and computer themselves. The electricity they are producing is clean solar energy produced by systems installed by Maryland companies and Maryland workers.
Astrum Solar is one of the companies helping to bring solar to Maryland homes. Started in 2008 by Vadim Polikov, Josh Goldberg and Ben Davis (Vadim and Josh are Maryland natives) and headquartered in Howard County, Astrum has installed nearly 1,000 solar electric systems in Maryland alone. Astrum Solar’s mission is to spread solar power to the rooftops of America. More and more people around the country are ready to take control of their unpredictable utility costs and reduce their electricity bills and carbon footprints. When they make that decision, Astrum is there to guide them and make going solar easy and rewarding.
With that mission, in under five years Astrum Solar has expanded to twelve states, created 100 Maryland jobs and been named the 2nd fastest growing company in the nation by Inc. Magazine. As Astrum has grown, Maryland as a state has seen an explosive growth in solar installations. In the past 22 months alone, solar capacity in the state has grown by approximately 700%. This growth was made possible by considered policies put in place by the state years ago. Maryland instituted a broad but responsible grant program that seeded the market by helping home and business owners afford the upfront cost associated with solar. Maryland also affirmed its commitment to clean energy by demanding that a percentage of its power be produced by clean sources, specifically solar. These policies are largely the result of the smart government and vision of Governor Martin O’Malley, a trusted partner of Astrum Solar.
The solar industry has changed a lot since Maryland took those first steps. Declines in the cost of materials have made solar affordable for everyone without state assistance. Accordingly, the grant has decreased dramatically. Advances in financing now allow people to go solar for no money down. The market for solar is taking off nation-wide, and Maryland has positioned itself to benefit from the economic development and local jobs that come with this expansion. And let’s not forget that this growth helps Maryland to preserve its air and water quality while limiting its dependence on foreign fuels.
Despite this initial success, there is much more to do. Renewables and solar are still only emerging as major power sources and Astrum Solar has considerable growth ahead of it. Maryland will need to continue to take appropriate and considered steps toward a clean energy future to preserve and expand the considerable gains it has already made. As it does this, Astrum Solar will continue to grow and give Maryland citizens the ability to choose clean, affordable, self-produced electricity.
Discovering 310
In this “People Behind the Policies” blog, we hear from a commuter who talks about her experience discovering her daily bus line while learning how it relates to our goal to Double Transit Ridership in Maryland by the end of 2020.
“Discovering 310″
By Kue’ McIntyre
It has been over a year and a half since I became a commuter bus rider. I was new to Columbia and wasn’t familiar with anything other than the Mall. My dilemma came when the engine on my car died. Not having any family or friends in the area, I had to find a way to get to work.
I started by checking the Howard Transit website for bus lines, stops and times. I found it would take me over 2 hours to get to downtown Baltimore. My day would start at 5:00am, and did I mention I am not a morning person? I would have to leave my house no later than 6:00am to be at work by 9:00am, not to mention the long commute. WOW. Can you say burned out? I wasn’t excited about the bus ride at all, so I kept searching.
After talking with several people, someone mentioned the Commuter Bus provided through the Maryland Transit Administration. I checked the MTA website. It provided a location off Snowden River Parkway and Route 175. As a newbie to the area, I Googled the bus stop location. It was only about a 15 minute walk from my home. The first bus leaves at 6:50 am and the last bus leaves at 8:12 am. I made a decision to ride the last bus. I can sleep a little longer, get dressed around 7:00am, and leave my house at 7:40 am. I was excited to find this bus service. It has cut my 2 hour commute to 35-45 minutes.
My first day, I waited patiently at the Park & Ride for the bus. I stood with unfamiliar faces. As I approached the bus door I was greeted by the driver who was a childhood friend and classmate. He explained to me where to pick up the bus after work so I could get back home. One great thing I like is I can take a nap, read a book, or listen to music while sitting in traffic. Plus, I save money on gas and parking. And if you are like me, I love the fact that someone else is driving. I know it sounds perfect but we do sometimes run a little late due to accidents, traffic jams and unforeseen events. But that’s ok when you’re relaxing on the quiet bus after a long day of work not being the driver in major traffic grid lock.
Why I Chose Maryland
In this “People Behind the Policies” blog, we hear from a small business owner who talks about her decision to move her company to Maryland and how it affects our goal to Recover 100% of the jobs lost due to the Great Recession.
“Why I Chose Maryland”
As a small business owner, I looked all across the country for a new home for my company Bambeco, an online retailer specializing in sustainable home décor and furnishings. I considered sites in California, Pennsylvania, Northern Virginia and Washington D.C., but, in 2010, I settled on South Baltimore to take advantage of the area’s public transportation, incentives for eco-friendly businesses, and job creation tax credits within Enterprise zones, and proximity to the Port of Baltimore.
My company, which sells everything from solar-powered tea lanterns to rugs made of recycled soda bottles, has experienced strong growth since moving to Maryland. We have been able to hire throughout 2012, expanding our staff by about half. And we expect our current workforce of 24 to more than double over the next two years.
I am also pleased to report that Bambeco expanded its corporate headquarters this year and we expect to be at capacity again in a few months. And this fall, we moved our distribution operations into a 22,000 square-foot warehouse in the city. I want to thank the Department of Business and Economic Development for investing in our company through the Maryland Venture Fund and InvestMaryland and helping us to expand, grow jobs and add inventory.
I am proud to say that because of Bambeco’s success in Maryland, our products are being featured all over the country in major media outlets like USA Today, Every Day with Rachael Ray, People Magazine, and on TV, including The Today Show and Emmy-winning sitcom Modern Family.
A Doctor’s Story
In this “People Behind the Policies” blog, we hear a doctor talk about his every day experiences and how it’s impacted by this goal: Establish best in the nation statewide health information exchange and electronic health records adoption by the end of 2012.
A Doctor’s Story
Dr. DelVecchio
“Health IT” (Health Information Technology) – we hear the term used often, but does it really make a difference in how patients are cared for? Can it really make it safer for patients? Can it lead to more affordable health care? With confidence I can answer “Yes” to all three of these questions.
As a practicing Emergency Physician, I often do not have access to very relevant clinical data that could help guide patient care. Nearly 80% of patients presenting to an Emergency Department arrive during hours which most primary care physician offices or clinics are closed. While an “on call” provider can often be reached, they are often not the primary provider aware of a patient’s condition, and rarely will recall the details of a specific lab test or radiographic study that was ordered. Similarly, obtaining medical records from other health care facilities is tedious, inefficient, and often not rapid enough when critical decisions need to be made. CRISP ( Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients) – Maryland’s Health Information Exchange – has dramatically changed this.
For many years I have been fortunate to work in a hospital that has a full integrated Electronic Health Record, allowing almost instant access to the information on patients previously seen in my facility. Now, through CRISP, I have secure access to critical clinical information from other Maryland hospitals, physician offices, outpatient radiology centers, lab facilities, and pharmacies.
In some cases access to this data has allowed me to care for a patient without repeating previously complete laboratory or radiographic tests (saving time, money, and reducing radiation exposure). In other cases obtaining the discharge summary or operative report quickly from another hospital has redirected management of a critically ill patient.
Is Health IT, and specifically Maryland’s Health Information Exchange (CRISP) , the answer to all healthcare issues – of course not. But there is no question it has had a significant impact on many of our patients already, and with the expansion of Health IT I believe we will continue to improve care, reduce unnecessary testing, decreasing exposure to radiation, prevent unnecessary admissions, and improving our ability to coordinate follow up care.
The People Behind the Policies
Together, we’ve made significant progress over the years. Our schools are number one in the country. we’ve driven down violent crime to its lowest level in over 30 years and we’ve decreased infant mortality deaths 16.3% since 2007. All of these achievements relate to our 15 strategic goals.
But often when sharing these statistics, it’s easy to lose sight of what they actually mean.
Crime is not the weather. It does not go up and down by itself. It is driven down by the hard work of our law enforcement and through effective policies. Our schools aren’t number one because of an arbitrary set of factors. The homicide rate going down is a great statistic but what it really means is that more moms don’t have to stand over a child’s casket.
We set these goals because the things that get measured are the things that get done. And the reason they get done is because of people. There are thousands of people working on these goals and millions more who are affected by them.
As we close the year and reflect on the progress we’ve made together, we wanted to share the stories of the people behind the policies. We’ll start with a touching story about a young woman who finally got the help she needed after years of substance abuse.
GDU Goal: Expand Access to Substance Abuse Services by 25% by the end of 2012.
“I am Worthy”
My name is Audralina and I’ve been a resident of Montgomery County for about thiry years. When I was fourteen years old, a light switch flicked on and my life changed.
My mind began to move faster and colors looked brighter than ever before. Everything in my life was amplified to a degree that I was experiencing both moments of clarity and pure chaos. The once introverted child was now living on the edge and struggling to make sense of it all.
When I entered middle school I began to act out. My parents got help for me but at that time the psychiatrist classified me as being rebellious. (I was later diagnosed with Bipolar disorder) As time went on my situation became worse and shortly after being assessed by the doctor, I tried to commit suicide. My parents found me.
When I was in my last year of high school I decided to drop out and live on the streets with my boyfriend. My life was out of control and I could not hear anyone. Soon after, I became pregnant with my son. His father and I both decided to get jobs and life seemed to be going fine until one day something changed – his father became physically abusive. He had always been abusive but I overlooked it because I had a problem with loving myself. I thought that he was the only one that would love me. At 19, we broke up.
I returned back home to my family who supported me and my son. Then I got a job where I was introduced to cocaine. It became my best friend. I kept it a secret for a while because it seemed fun but the fun periods became shorter and the painful times became longer. I used for over twenty years and was disconnected from my family for most of that time. I was running from myself the whole time; I was afraid of who I would find once I began to look inside of myself.
One day, I decided to get help.
Today I am different because I participate in my wellness program. I know how to ask for help, and I’m now helping others with addiction.
I am not existing today – I am living, and life has offered many solutions.
My family has been supporting me since I began this journey when I was a teenager. I have been blessed along the way to have an extended support network.
The women’s outpatient program that I still attend has been a steady support system for me. I will never forget all of the programs that I attended and utilized in Montgomery County that always let me come back and never gave up on me.
I recently celebrated two years of recovery and it is truly a blessing and I know that did not do it alone. Loving myself was something that I thought I was not worthy of, but now I know that I am worthy.
My Son Jonathan
By Lt. Governor Anthony Brown
I became an adoptive parent 12 years ago when we brought my son, Jonathan, into our family. As we considered expanding our family through adoption, I had an overwhelming sense of the tremendous thing we were doing for this child. But upon bringing Jonathan home, we quickly learned the truth—that we were the recipients of a gift that continues to change and enrich our life every single day in ways we couldn’t possibly imagine.
The most important factor in a child’s life is a stable, loving home in which he or she can laugh, learn and thrive. That’s why Governor O’Malley and I have made improving outcomes for children who need permanent homes a priority. Since the launch of our Place Matters initiative, almost 3,200 children have found permanent homes through adoption, guardianship or reunification with family, and we’ve reduced the number of children in foster care by 35 percent.
Although we’ve seen significant progress, there is still much work to be done. It is my hope that by sharing Jonathan’s story, other families will come to know the gift of adoption.
In honor of National Adoption Month, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be hosting a Twitter Chat this Wednesday, November 28th at 2pm. We’ll be answering questions and providing information on various topics related to adoption. I’m also hoping the conversation will inspire other families to share their own experiences. Please help spread the word and join in the conversation using the hashtag #LGBrownChat.
Facts about Maryland’s Education Investments
By Rick Abbruzzese, Director of Public Affairs
In honor of American Education Week, we wanted to share these charts with facts about Maryland’s continued commitment to public education. We also wanted to thank the Maryland State Education Association and the National Education Association for their help in upholding Maryland’s marriage equality and Dream Act laws.
K-12 Education Aid — Statewide Totals
General Fund Spending Growth FY2007 — FY2013
Capital Funding for School Construction
New/Replacement Schools Funded Under the O’Malley-Brown Administration
Per Pupil Funding
CBF Fact Checks Funk and Bolton
By Raquel Guillory, Director of Communications
In Maryland, we know that one of the keys to restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, lies in reducing the input of pollution from sources throughout each watershed. That’s what we are working to do with Maryland’s Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). Restoring the health of the Bay, and reducing the impacts of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions will take a coordinated effort, but I wanted to share this disturbing letter from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on an effort underway that threatens to undermine our collective actions to restore the health of the Bay.
Please take a minute to read this letter from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the accompanying fact sheet that sets the record straight.
- Board of Public Works:
28 days, 20 hours, 26 minutes ago - Board of Public Works:
7 days, 20 hours, 26 minutes ago