(11/25) Frederick County Accepted Into Mobility Action Learning Network

The Urban Institute selected Frederick County Government, along with community partners the United Way of Frederick County, Data Driven Frederick and other community leaders, to participate in the Institute’s Mobility Action Learning Network. The network provides free technical assistance to teams of community leaders who are moving people out of poverty and creating equity.

"I am excited to partner with the Urban Institute to help break down barriers to economic mobility in Frederick County," County Executive Jessica Fitzwater said. "The Mobility Action Learning Network gives us an opportunity to engage in collaborative problem solving with other communities across the country who are committed to addressing the underlying causes of poverty."

Over the next year, the team will utilize a data-driven approach to finding solutions by utilizing existing data, such as the Child Care Market Study, the ALICE Report, and other local data to determine where they can make the greatest impact collectively.

As a member of the network, Frederick County will participate in virtual workshops, peer-learning opportunities, and advisory support calls with Urban Institute experts for 12 months. Urban will cover costs related to travel and accommodations associated with attending an in-person learning exchange.

Frederick County Government’s mobility action team will include a wide range of County services and resources, under the leadership of Lara Fritts, Director of Economic Opportunity. Other participating divisions and agencies include: Housing, Transit, Equity and Inclusion, Health Equity Office, and the Office of Children and Families, including the Local Management Board. Nongovernment partners include the United Way, with a focus on its ALICE Report; Hood College and its Data Driven Frederick project; and other interested organizations, which provides community leadership, funding, and technical support.

The Urban Institute selected up to 30 teams nationally to participate in the Mobility Action Learning Network. To be eligible, a team must include local leaders from government agencies and nongovernment organizations that can create and sustain change. The goal is to lift people out of poverty through programs, policies, and actions. The network will equip members with data, practices, and opportunities to learn from each other to address local challenges related to upward mobility and racial equity work.

State of County Address Features Successes of First Year of Fitzwater Administration

The state of Frederick County is strong, County Executive Jessica Fitzwater declared in her first State of the County Address this evening. That strength comes from focusing on the Administration’s core values of inclusion, sustainability, and accountability. The County Executive unveiled three key initiatives during her 30-minute address – the creation of a transition dashboard, the establishment of an Office of Agriculture, and the opening of the walk-in crisis care center – and she highlighted progress on a wide range of topics.

"I am proud that my administration is building bridges and bringing people together so we can make transformational change," County Executive Fitzwater said in her address. "We are standing up for the things that really matter. We are lifting up voices that have not been heard so we can all rise and thrive. The State of Frederick County is strong, and through innovation, hope, and purpose, we continue to grow stronger every day."

The key initiatives unveiled Wednesday include:

Transition Dashboard: People can now track the Administration’s progress on over 60 recommendations made by the Transition Team in its final report. The dashboard lists details of work done to implement each recommendation. The site will be updated quarterly so the public can stay up to date on progress. The dashboard can be found at FrederickCountyMD.gov/Transition-Dashboard.

Office of Agriculture: The newly created Office of Agriculture will centralize and elevate the County’s agricultural functions. The Office will bring together the agricultural land preservation programs and the award-winning Agriculture Innovation Grants program. One of the first tasks for the new office will be to update the County’s Agricultural Strategic Plan, which was last published in 2008.

Crisis Care Center: A 24/7 Walk-In Crisis Care Center for people experiencing mental health and/or substance misuse crises will open for patients at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26. The center – a first of its kind in Maryland – will provide basic medical care and connect patients to community-based resources to provide ongoing recovery-oriented services. The facility is owned by Frederick County and operated by the Mental Health Association under the direction of the Frederick County Health Department. Funding came from Congressionally Directed Spending, a State capital grant, and a portion of Frederick County’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation. Day-to-day operations will be supported by opioid settlement payments made to Frederick County.

County Executive Fitzwater presented her State of the County Address at the Prospect Center, a large, County-owned facility on Himes Avenue in Frederick City. Once fully renovated, the center will house several divisions that directly serve the public. A solar canopy will be installed in the parking lot. A microgrid at the center will improve reliability and resilience for essential county services. "By locating County offices at the Prospect Center, we will meet residents where they are in a way that is accessible to more county residents, especially our historically underserved communities," County Executive Fitzwater said.

Emergency Communications Personnel Recognized at Regional Awards Event

Several Frederick County Department of Emergency Communications employees earned top honors last week at the Mid-Eastern Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Fall Conference in Ocean City, bringing home awards for Director of the Year and Team of the Year.

"I am so proud of our team at the 9-1-1 Center," County Executive Jessica Fitzwater said. "Frederick County is a statewide leader in the service provided by our emergency call-takers. These dedicated employees work hard every day to keep our community safe."

Kristie Dutrow, Assistant Director of Emergency Communications, was recognized by Mid-Eastern APCO as Communications Center Director of the Year for the State of Maryland. Dutrow was nominated for her work on improving the mental health of Frederick County’s 9-1-1 employees. Since her career began in 1998, Dutrow has provided enhanced employee training on mental well-being, and was instrumental in advocating for a behavioral health coordinator to support Frederick County 9-1-1.

Team of the Year honors went to Frederick County employees of Teams A and F, who were recognized for their combined efforts processing 62 emergency calls in 10 minutes and managing over 1,900 radio transmissions during the March 4, 2023, tanker fire on U.S. 15 in Frederick. Emergency Communications Managers Jeffrey Lowman and James Worley II were recognized for their leadership in managing the incident. Teams A and F managed the tanker-incident while also handling numerous other incidents in the County. Team members who were recognized include: Eric Stackhouse; Amanda Miss; Morgan Click; Angelia Axline; Chad Brown; Jen Butler; Lisa Lanam; Jacob Dmuchowski; Hunter Clark; and Amelia Halvorsen.

Also during the conference, Emergency Communications Supervisor Tom Ward was sworn in as the 2nd Vice President of Mid-Eastern APCO. Ward began his career with Frederick County in 2016 and serves on two committees with APCO International. As the of Mid-Eastern APCO Vice President, Ward will serve as an advocate for the hundreds of 911 professionals throughout Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia.

Founded in 1935, APCO International is the world's oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals. The Department of Emergency Communications, under the Division of Emergency Management, serves as the Public Safety Answering Point for all 9-1-1 calls and non-emergency requests, and coordinates after-hours communications for County agencies. DEC dispatches fire, rescue and emergency medical services, law enforcement, including Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Brunswick City Police, and Thurmont Police Department, Animal Control, and other County agencies.

Child Care for Young Children is Essential for Families to Work

Frederick, Md. – Work, job search or school, is the reason that 80% of families are choosing child care for their children who are too young for kindergarten, according to preliminary findings from the Frederick County Child Care Market Study led by the Frederick County Office for Children and Families. Community members and families attended a Community Information and Input session on November 15th to learn more about the study and to provide input about their experiences and ideas for potential solutions.

The study shows Frederick County families pay for child care in time, money, and stress. Thirty-eight percent say that child care adds 30 minutes or more to their daily commute. Forty-six percent of Frederick County families spend $300 or more on child care every week. Fifty-two percent of families report the cost of child care being very or extremely stressful—with 82% receiving no financial assistance. This is according to a survey completed by 1,300 Frederick County families in May 2023, which was conducted by the study’s contractor, Public Policy Associates and Solomon Evaluation.

"It’s no surprise that child care is expensive. But it’s not the only cost. Families also pay for child care in time and stress. Child care providers may not be located where families need them and the expense is a huge stressor that the majority of families bear alone," said Shelly Toms, director of the Office for Children and Families.

Furthermore, all children showed big differences in readiness for kindergarten if they had participated in formal child care -- licensed to meet staffing and quality requirements -- according to a preliminary analysis from the study. The biggest increase in readiness was for English Learners and Hispanic children, who participated in formal care prior to kindergarten.

The study will identify child care provider and family needs and inform the Office for Children and Families on ways the County can look at innovative strategies to improve child care access and the child care system. The study is funded by an American Rescue Plan Act grant. For more information about the project and information on the Community Information and Input Session scheduled for December 6 for employers and businesses, contact the Office for Children and Families or see visit www.publicpolicy.com/FrederickCoStudy.