Op-Ed: When Parents Thrive, Our Children Thrive

What if I told you that we have an existing program that could help girls to raise their high school graduation rates, increase their total years of education, and raise their lifetime income? What if I told you that for boys, it would lower their drug use, lower their incarceration rates, and raise their lifetime income? 

What if I told you this program has been around in a few different forms for more than 30 years, and its mission is to ensure young children have strong families and high-quality early learning environments? What if I told you that the program is part of our Blueprint for Maryland’s Future? 

Finally, what if I told you that every dollar spent on this program leads to a cost reduction of $5 on the school-to-prison pipeline? 

If you like what I just wrote, then let me introduce you to high-quality early childhood programs. 

There are many different players who help start, support, and advocate for high-quality child care and learning for all kids. One advocacy group among many in the field is the Maryland Family Network.

As the parent of a Baltimore City Public Schools student, I want my precious jewel and all of Baltimore’s precious jewels to get the best possible education possible. I believe the way to break the school-to-prison pipeline is through the collective action of our village. We need our parents to be involved in their children’s education and development, and if they are lacking in some aspects of parenting then let’s work to get them the help they need. We need to supply our teachers and paraprofessionals with the resources they need.  

With crime at the top of the list of concerns for Baltimore City residents, we need to break this cycle. I support the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (aka the Kirwan Commission). Spending money on early childhood development and improving the parenting skills of moms and dads will go a long way to making Baltimore a better city. 

Public safety is an issue that impacts everyone in Baltimore City and permeates into every aspect of our quality of life, from improving our neighborhoods to population growth. We hear about crime on the radio and watch violence on the news. We have apps on our phones that alert us when a registered sex offender moves into our neighborhood. Unfortunately, across the country, Baltimore has become almost synonymous with murder and violent crime. We cannot have an overall conversation about public safety without addressing the underlying factors that help determine the trajectory of a child’s life and likelihood of success. We cannot continue to put on Band-Aids when we have a broken leg. As leaders and residents, we must assess the root causes, and I firmly believe we can save so many of our young people by getting parents more involved and improving our city’s overall education system. 

Around eight percent of a child’s brain development happens between the ages of 0 to 5. It’s a period of unparalleled opportunity. Children need role models and strong, positive influences in their lives. We can lower crime by having more parents present in their children’s lives and involved in their education. We can offer parents classes and develop special spaces where they can complete their high school education or find jobs that allow them to move to a better neighborhood. It takes some families multiple generations to break the vicious cycle of poverty, creating both mental and physical strain.

Many parents want to do better. They want to thrive and succeed, but they do not have the tools or resources to do so. My goal as the next city council president is to continue to decrease crime by increasing parental involvement in schools by 20 percent. We can do this by creating education hubs that provide a number of services in one setting with resources to help the entire family. We need job centers that also include child care and classrooms where parents can earn their GEDs and increase the likelihood of employment. Again, it takes a lot of work to break the cycle of poverty, but we can absolutely do it if we make a commitment and work together to lift up families and ultimately keep our young people from falling victim to a life of drugs, crime, and violence.

Maryland Family Network isn’t the only organization in this space. We have a shining example of success in our city with a proven track record of making a difference. In East Baltimore, we have a wonderful nonprofit, the Men and Families Center. Founded by Leon Purnell, the center was one of the first organizations to recognize that you help the child by providing support and opportunities to the entire family. Purnell tried to offer up as many services and resources as he could fit in his small, cramped space.

As the next city council president, helping parents succeed and increasing their engagement in their children’s lives is one of my top priorities. I want to lower absenteeism, but I also want to ensure that we offer opportunities and locations for people to improve their lives in every corner of our city. I have been speaking to parents, educators, and advocates about how we can improve education, and the conversation almost always comes back to parents.

I send my precious jewel to Baltimore public schools. I want every child in every corner of the city to deserve support and an opportunity to succeed. Throughout my time in Baltimore City government, I have heard many politicians spout off statistics. It’s past time to tackle the root cause of the problem. The road might be difficult, but solving complex problems can be challenging. I’m no stranger to taking on the tough fights, and I will continue to keep fighting as your next city council president.

Shannon Sneed is a longtime advocate for the citizens of Baltimore. Shannon has served as a neighborhood advocate, city councilwoman representing District 13, and as a candidate for lieutenant governor of the State of Maryland. She is currently a candidate for city council president.