Successful youth engagement strategies provide young people with opportunities to gain work experience, acquire new skills, and learn responsibility and accountability – all while making a positive contribution to their communities. From a policy perspective, youth civic participation is also critical to preparing young people for active citizenship and is a strong indicator of economic empowerment.

As the Governor’s Office for Children and the Cabinet for Children explore how best to achieve Governor Hogan’s four strategic goals, it is vital that young people are included in discussions about service improvements, policy decisions, and increasing access to quality services. For example, research shows that civic engagement among youth, including unpaid volunteerism, can halve the likelihood of youth becoming disconnected. In addition, Job Corps sites that implement youth engagement strategies, including youth councils, youth decision-making bodies, and youth surveys, have had better employment and educational outcomes than those that have not. Finally, civic engagement can help low-income youth build social capital and find meaningful education and career pathways, as well as increase the economic resilience of a region.

Maryland provides opportunities for youth to have a voice through a variety of state and local boards and organizations, including but not limited to:

• Maryland Youth Advisory Council (coordinated by the Governor’s Office for Children);
• Maryland Association of Student Councils;
• Maryland Higher Education Commission – Student Advisory Council;
• Student Council of the University System of Maryland;
• Student member of the Board of Education;
• State Advisory Council of the Department of Juvenile Justice;
• Department of Human Resources State Youth Advisory Council;
• Youth Council of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention;
• Maryland 4-H State Council;
• Taking a flight of the youth council.

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The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and New Mexico State University, is supporting DNA4Technolgies of Baltimore, Maryland, a genomic and bioinformatics company dedicated to the accurate identification of natural products, in developing methods to extract, isolate, and analyze wood DNA from commercially traded species. These methods are aimed at helping customs and law enforcement agencies and the private sector with a reliable means of identifying wood species in commerce and preventing illegal forest products from entering the U.S. supply chain.

Researchers from Goddard Space Flight Center, Johns Hopkins University, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Maryland have received grants from the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF), which supports OES, to conduct joint research projects with Israeli scientists. BSF research funding, selected through a peer-review process, contributes to the development of our bilateral relationship and shared research priorities.

Maryland companies have received grants from the U.S.-Israeli Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Fund, which is supported by OES, to establish joint ventures with Israeli companies. The BIRD funding, selected through a competitive process, creates mutually beneficial cooperation between U.S. and Israeli companies.

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Fiscal Impact

One of the most tangible ways that federal policy affects states is through the distribution of federal funds. States often depend on federal grants and subsidies to fund a variety of programs, including education, health care, transportation, and welfare. Changes in the federal budget or legislation can have serious consequences for a state’s financial well-being.

Regulatory Impact

Federal laws and regulations can also have a significant impact on a state’s economy and business environment. For example, changes in federal tax policies or requirements for compliance with safety standards and environmental regulations could affect local businesses and entrepreneurs in Maryland.

Social programs and legislation

Federal legislation can also affect social programs provided by states. For example, changes in federal health or welfare legislation may require states to change their laws and budgets to comply with the new requirements.

Policy Priorities and Conflicts

Sometimes the policy priorities of the federal government may not align with the interests and priorities of a particular state. This can lead to political conflicts and confrontation between the state and federal governments, making it difficult to effectively manage and solve problems at the local level.

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