Child Survivors Justice Program
The Child Survivors Justice Program is an innovative, trauma-informed initiative within the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office designed to enhance the recognition, assessment, investigation, and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases. The program prioritizes the mental health and well-being of child victims while minimizing additional trauma throughout the criminal justice process.
Directed by Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Kendall Patterson, the program integrates evidence-based, trauma-informed practices into every stage of prosecution. Core services include specialized training for law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim advocates; consultation on cases involving child victims and witnesses; and direct trauma-informed support for children and families prior to and during prosecution. The program also collaborates closely with the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) and Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure comprehensive, coordinated care.
Since joining the Office of the State’s Attorney in 2020, Ms. Patterson has led the development and delivery of specialized trauma-informed training for law enforcement, prosecutors, and multidisciplinary professionals. She serves on a multidisciplinary community resource care team connecting children and families in crisis to essential supports and is a trusted consultant on trauma-informed interviewing and victim advocacy in complex cases, including human trafficking and domestic and family violence. Ms. Patterson has also presented at multiple national conferences on child abuse and trauma-informed practices and regularly coordinates advanced training for attorneys, police officers, social workers, and other key stakeholders in child abuse prevention.
From its establishment the Child Survivors Justice Program has strengthened trauma-informed training countywide, improved forensic interviewing practices, enhanced multidisciplinary collaboration, and expanded access to clinical mental health services for child victims. Through ongoing research, program development, and community partnerships, the Child Survivors Justice Program continues to advance best practices in trauma-informed prosecution, positioning Anne Arundel County as a leader in child-centered justice.
Juvenile Justice Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Project
The Juvenile Justice Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Project (JJTCIP) is a dynamic program that provides counseling and services to Anne Arundel County students who are at risk of being suspended from school, keeping them engaged and away from the juvenile justice system.
The program’s three main goals are:
- To reduce the number of suspensions/expulsions in Anne Arundel County Public Schools
- To reduce the number of Juveniles in Detention/ Incarcerated
- Decrease crime committed by Juvenile Offenders in Anne Arundel County
The Program is facilitated by a Licensed Certified Clinical Social Worker, who delivers therapeutic interventions in school and community settings in Anne Arundel County. The Program partners with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system and there is a Memorandum of Understanding in place. Parents can also self-refer their child or youth. The Program offers a strengths-based approach with evidenced based strategies drawn from DBT, CBT, Motivational Interviewing and Problem-Solving Therapy. The Diversionary Program only shares data outcomes for statistical and grant writing purposes. For example, number of children served, number of interventions, and other demographic information but no personal identifiable information is shared. The emphasis of this Program is to keep youth in school and outside of the Juvenile Justice System by teaching appropriate tools to maintain school attendance, self-regulate, improve inter-personal relationships and emotional well-being and increase public safety at large.
The Office of the Anne Arundel County States Attorney’s Office Juvenile Justice Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Project is funded by the State of Maryland through the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance (ALN 16.738) via the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Policy’s State Fiscal Year 2026 Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (BJAG) Program.
If you are interested in referring a student to the program, please contact Ms. Maxine Smith at 410-222-7265, sasmit24@aacounty.org, or via the referral form below.