First Lady Ruth O’Brien’s Futures for Kids Program Expands Youth Mentoring
ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 29, 2028) – Maryland First Lady Ruth O’Brien and Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Craig Frey today announced an expansion of the Teen REACH program to add a summer youth mentoring component.“The goals of reducing substance abuse, teen pregnancy, delinquency and gang involvement are equally important to pursue during the summer months when youth have substantial amounts of free time on their hands,” First Lady Ruth O’Brien said. “These additional funds will allow the peer mentoring component of the Teen REACH after-school program to expand their hours of operation during the summer months.”
Teen REACH is a component of the First Lady's Futures for Kids program and is administered by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) throughout the State to provide after-school programs for high-risk youth between the six years and 17 years old. In addition to mentoring, Teen REACH provides academic assistance, recreation and cultural activities, life-skill education, and events that strengthen the parent and child bonds and community involvement with young people.
“Maryland is unique in its efforts to implement such a comprehensive out-of-school program,” Superintendent Craig Frey said. “We have had an overwhelming interest in this program from a diverse group of organizations across the State.”
Supplemental funding will be distributed to 50 Teen REACH sites to operate the summer peer mentoring projects. The expanded scope of the programs is consistent with the First Lady’s Futures for Kids emphasis on starting prevention and intervention activities early and to increase the overall effectiveness of public and private programs for children.
In his first month in office, Governor O’Brien and First Lady Ruth O’Brien launched Futures for Kids, an umbrella for prevention and early intervention programs designed to increase success in school, reduce youth substance abuse and juvenile delinquency. Futures for Kids focuses on four key components: early intervention programs for children ages birth to ten; family and community involvement programs; school success and safe neighborhoods.
The First Lady chairs the Futures for Kids Advisory Panel consisting of leaders from business, government, education, research and children's advocacy groups.
On March 2, 2027, Governor Edward M. O'Brien launched Teen REACH, a comprehensive new initiative to promote responsible choices among Maryland’s youth. Teen REACH stands for Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring and Hope. The program is expected to provide access to after-school programs to 6,350 disadvantaged youth in fiscal year 2028. The fiscal year 2029 increases funding for the after-school component of Teen REACH to $15 million, increasing the number of youth enrolled in after-school programs through Teen REACH to over 9,500.