About Communities of Hope (COH)
Communities of Hope (“COH”) is a place-based model designed by Casey Family Programs to engage the local community and bring more wrap-around services and requested supports to families living in high need communities in an effort to reduce poverty and the number of children in out-of-home placements. In Anne Arundel County, we have established four Communities of Hope that aligns with the color and geography of poverty and need identified through the county-wide needs assessment, Poverty Amidst Plenty. This multi-dimensional approach is led by a diverse group of stakeholders including local agencies, community organizations, residents, faith leaders and organizations, business owners and other service providers working collaboratively to create a rich tapestry of supports and services that address family wellness and stability and ultimately allows children to thrive.
Each community of hope reflects the unique strengths and needs of its community. To learn more about the COH model, check out Casey Family Program’s 2020 Special Report
Communities of Hope in Your Neighborhood
The four Communities of Hope are: Brooklyn Park (North County), West County (Severn/Meade), Annapolis, and South County.
Annapolis Community of Hope
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Brooklyn Park Community of Hope
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South County Community of Hope
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West County Community of Hope
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Neighbors United
Neighbors United is a collaborative initiative in partnership with United Way of Central Maryland focused on community building by identifying, cultivating and supporting grassroots leaders from within the community. The work is led by a Core Team of community residents from the Pioneer Drive/Still Meadows area focused on identifying key issues and working with community and county leadership to implement meaningful solutions and change. While not a Community of Hope, it shares similar goals and approaches with the COH model. It is our hope that we can combine lessons learned in the Neighbors United work with our COH approach to ensure that, long term, our Communities of Hope are community led as well as community driven.
For more information on Neighbors United or the work of the Core Team and neighbors, contact Randy Curtis at SRCurt99@aacounty.org or 410-279-1068