Summary: SCIP-2026 State Court Improvement - Basic Program

The Supreme Court of Maryland, Administrative Office of Courts (AOC), received a formula grant award of $698,737 from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) under the State Court Improvement Program (CFDA 93.586) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This funding supports Maryland's efforts to enhance the quality and effectiveness of court processes related to child welfare, family preservation, and adoption. The grant enables the AOC to conduct assessments of child welfare court proceedings, identify systemic barriers to timely decision-making, and implement improvements to strengthen legal representation and judicial practices in cases involving child safety, permanency, and well-being.

As a formula grant recipient, Maryland receives systematic allocation of federal resources based on state-specific needs and criteria within the child welfare system. The AOC will utilize the funding to support ongoing enhancements to court operations and processes that directly impact how the state judiciary handles child welfare cases, with the flexibility to design and implement assessments tailored to Maryland's particular judicial and community contexts. The award aligns with the program's broader objective of improving outcomes across state and tribal court systems nationwide that serve vulnerable child populations.