ICYMI: First Lady Moore Highlights Expanded State Partnership during NGA First Spouses Retreat

ANNAPOLIS, MD — First Lady Dawn Moore yesterday celebrated the announcement of a new expanded partnership between State of Maryland and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maryland, which will create 100 new service positions in the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option program dedicated to providing mentorship and supporting the holistic health of Maryland’s youth. The First Lady visited the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore: Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club to see the partnership in action with a delegation of first ladies during the National Governors Association First Spouses Retreat.

“As First Lady and a mother of two, I am committed to advocating for the wellbeing of all Maryland’s children, as our administration works to increase youth mental health services across the state and help young Marylanders in need,” said First Lady Moore. “Adding these 100 new service positions will provide a major resource to our local communities and encourage more Marylanders to join us in our effort to combat the youth mental health crisis. I am proud to show first ladies around the country how Maryland is leading through service and continuing on our mission to leave no behind.”

During the visit, First Lady Moore was joined by Oklahoma First Lady Sarah Stitt, North Carolina First Lady Anna Stein, Delaware First Lady Laura Meyer, and South Dakota First Lady Sandy Rhoden on a tour of the facility. Following the tour, the group participated in a roundtable discussion with Maryland Corps/Service Year Option and Maryland Youth Mental Health Corps members to learn about their experiences in the program. The visit concluded with classroom instructional time and mental health coaching with Boys & Girls Club members.

“The Maryland Youth Mental Health Corps is a powerful model for addressing the national youth mental health crisis. By investing in our young Marylanders to serve as near-peer support, we are not only immediately strengthening our communities and behavioral health workforce pipeline, but also demonstrating a replicable, high-impact blueprint for service that benefits the entire country,” said Department of Service and Civic Innovation Secretary Jonny Dorsey. “We’re ecstatic about showcasing our program to the National Governors Association as we share and learn with other states committed to service.”

Through the partnership with the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maryland, the 100 new service members will serve in roles focused on promoting wellness that include:

• Mental Health: New members will be instrumental in delivering social-emotional learning programming to youth, bolstering mental health support and behavioral health navigation in local communities. These members will join a growing national Youth Mental Health Corps effort focused on providing more youth with mental health services and expanding the behavioral health workforce pipeline.
• Physical and Mental Health/Mentorship for Young Men and Boys: This effort supports the Moore-Miller administration’s Young Men and Boys Initiative under the Governor’s Office for Children, which aims to address alarming rates of suicide and other mental health challenges among young men in part by fostering stronger, safer communities through increased mentorship opportunities. Members will implement programs such as the Boys & Girls Club's Triple Play strategy, which encourages healthy habits in mind, body, and soul; and will increase the presence of male mentors and men in service within the clubs.

“The data is clear: Our young people—including our young men and boys—are facing a mental health crisis.” said Governor’s Office for Children Special Secretary Carmel Martin. “This partnership will strengthen mental health resources for young people and further the administration’s work to uplift young men and boys by increasing mental health and wellbeing supports and expanding the presence of positive male role models through the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option.”

“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with the State of Maryland to deliver evidence-based Boys & Girls Club programming through over 80 community based locations across our great state.” said Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Club State Director Mark Piccirilli. “These members will drastically increase our capacity to deliver Triple Play, Positive Action, and social-emotional learning programs directly to children.”

This partnership reinforces the Moore-Miller administration's commitment to expanding opportunities for our youth and providing mental health services for all Marylanders. Since taking office, the administration has invested $1.4 billion in mental health services. In partnership with the Maryland General Assembly, the Moore-Miller administration has invested nearly $5 million to the Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs for more than 64 clubs. The Fiscal Year 2027 budget includes an additional $1.5 million investment.

Currently, more than 750 young people are serving at more than 200 partner organizations statewide through the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option program. Since 2023, the program has helped navigate more than 1,600 Marylanders through service opportunities in their local communities.

The Department of Service and Civic Innovation invites young Marylanders to apply to the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option for the Fall 2026 class. Maryland employers are also encouraged to apply as host members. Visit serve.maryland.gov to learn more.

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