Maryland has a network of 24 Patty Centers (formerly named Family Support Centers) in 14 counties that offer free, educational and health-related services to parents and their children ages birth through three.  

The Centers provide services designed to:

• Promote the optimal development of young children
• Help adults develop more effective parenting skills and fulfill their aims related to school, employment and family life
• Provide supportive networks among parents in local communities
• Connect parents and children to the agencies and community resources that can help them

The Centers offer a range of services including:

• Quality infant/toddler care and assessment while parents are on site
• Parent education
• Adult education, family literacy and job readiness training programs
• Health education and referral for services
• Home visits for some services
• Peer support
• Service coordination between agencies

Network funding is provided by the Maryland State Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, private foundations, corporations, and individuals.

Early Head Start

Since 1995 the Maryland Family Network has added Early Head Start (EHS) programs to Family Support Centers in five counties and Baltimore City.  These include:

• Southern Anne Arundel County
• Seven communities in Baltimore City
• Caroline County
• Cecil County
• Dorchester County
• Talbot County