women infants and children

• Opinion

New rule threatens to undercount families in poverty

If the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has its way, a new federal poverty calculation will underestimate the number of families living in poverty,

• Health

Baltimore just saw the worst spike of sleep-related infant deaths since 2009 — sparking review of program

During a six week stretch in December and January, six infants died in their sleep in homes around Baltimore, the worst spate of such deaths since the city began a largely successful campaign in 2009 to teach new mothers how to avoid such a tragedy,

By Meredith Cohn

Mar 19, 2019

• Opinion

Md. paid family leave bill provides economic security for caregivers

We face a caregiving crisis in America. More than 40 million people provide uncompensated care for relatives every year. Most must juggle their caregiving with their employment; some have to make a choice between the two.

• Maryland

Health care in Howard County

As the population of Howard County has grown, so have the health care resources available to residents.

• Opinion

Low-income moms shouldn't have to worry about getting diapers for their babies

Too many moms are bleaching and reusing diapers because they can't afford enough of a supply for their babies. The federal government needs to seriously consider covering the cost.

• Maryland

Harford Health Department promotes breastfeeding

Today Wednesday, August 1 kicks off World Breastfeeding Week 2018 and Harford County Health Department would like to take this time to promote breastfeeding within the county.

• Harford

Free haircuts helped Harford students go back to school in style

The new school year started in style for more than 130 Harford County children with limited resources, thanks to free haircuts and new school supplies

• Baltimore County

Catonsville farmers markets work to reach out to low income shoppers

Farmers markets in Catonsville are working to remove barriers and reach out to lower-income shoppers, offering education and fresh, healthy food.

By Libby Solomon

Sep 13, 2017

• Maryland

Health Department: August is the time to celebrate breastfeeding in Maryland

August is Breastfeeding Month in Maryland

• Maryland

Grant to Towson Y's HeadStart program will target childhood obesity

Children in Towson's Head Start Center will soon see more movement and activity incorporated into the center's day-to-day programming.

By Margarita Cambest

Jul 7, 2017

• Maryland

Humane Society of Carroll County offers free spay/neuter services to low-income pit bull owners

In order to qualify, owners must provide proof of government assistance by providing a copy of their Awards Letter from Social Services, food stamp card, proof of SSI or Social Security benefits, WIC, or unemployment benefits.

• Maryland

Breastfeeding Month provides reminder of benefits

Breastfeeding is healthy and cost-effective, and gives children a great start.

• Baltimore City Paper

Farmers Markets

• Opinion

Support science, not potato special interests [Commentary]

After multiple failed attempts, the potato industry is once again leading a charge to allow white potatoes in WIC food packages, despite more than eight years of research conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Institute of Medicine determining that WIC participants already consume enough potatoes in their diets. In a statewide survey among Maryland WIC participants, 15 percent of 6- to 8-month olds and 24 percent of 9- to 12-month olds consumed white potatoes, often French fries,

• Opinion

Support science, not potato special interests [Commentary]

• Opinion

For some, income drops as wage rises [Commentary]

The most important impact of living wage proposals is not a transfer of income from the employer to the employee, but from the employer to the government in the form of lower costs of government safety net programs.

• Opinion

For some, income drops as wage rises [Commentary]

• Fitness

New grant expands Baltimore's 'B'more Fit' program [Commentary]

Our goal in Baltimore is to decrease the number of adults who are obese by 15 percent. To that end, Weight Watchers Ambassador Jennifer Hudson was in Baltimore this week to help announce a new initiative through the Weight Watchers and U.S. Conference of Mayors Healthy Communities Grant Program. The

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

New grant expands Baltimore's 'B'more Fit' program [Commentary]

• Features

Jennifer Hudson makes Baltimore appearance to aid city's weight loss program

Jennifer Hudson urged women to chart their own path to better health as she spoke to a gathering of Weight Watchers participants at a West Baltimore senior center Tuesday morning.

• Baltimore City Paper

Baltimore's youngest councilman has high hopes for himself and for his city

• Carroll County Times

Food pantries at schools offer lessons in support

Manchester Valley High School the 16th to offer help

• Opinion

Food stamp fraud is real and must be stopped

There is too much fraud and waste in the food stamp program to oppose cuts.

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Food stamp fraud is real and must be stopped

• Science

Food stamps electronic system outage resolved

Xerox officials said Sunday they had resolved a technical glitch that left those who use food stamps in Maryland and 16 other states without access to their benefits the day before.

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Food stamps electronic system outage resolved

• Lifestyle and Leisure

Traffic increases at food pantries, aid programs

Some food pantries and aid programs in Maryland are experiencing an increase in requests for help as the federal government shutdown continues — a jump program officials believe is due partly to federal furloughs.

• Data & Interactives

Faces of the shutdown

In a state where 300,000 people work for the federal government and countless more depend on its benefits, Maryland has been hard hit by the government shutdown. Here are five people, a researcher, a homeless mother, a veteran and two federal workers, and how the budget impasse has affected their lives.

• National Government

Marylanders hurt by the federal shutdown

In a state where 300,000 people work for the federal government and countless more depend on its benefits, Maryland has been hard hit by the government shutdown. Here are five people, a researcher, a homeless mother, a veteran and two federal workers, and how the budget impasse has affected their lives.

• Medical Research

Marylanders hurt by the federal shutdown

• Politics and Government

Obama to make public plea in Maryland

President Barack Obama will make his case for reopening the federal government at a construction firm in Maryland on Thursday as a political solution to end the two-day-old shutdown remains elusive.

• Barack Obama

Obama to make public plea in Maryland

• Politics

Frequently asked questions about the government shutdown

Congress has brought the nation once again up against a deadline to fund the federal government or shut it down. Unless lawmakers strike a deal, federal employees will be sent home when they arrive at work on Tuesday and government services will be suspended. Here's a look at how shutdown would affect you:

• Politics

Frequently asked questions about the government shutdown

• Opinion

Fighting obesity with good nutrition

Government-backed nutrition programs key to reducing obesity rates

• Opinion

Fighting obesity with good nutrition

• Opinion

In Maryland, it pays not to work

With some of the most generous welfare benefits in the country, there are powerful incentives not to get a job in Maryland.

• Opinion

In Maryland, it pays not to work

• Opinion

Living like kings on food stamps

Food stamp program is abused by modern-day welfare queens

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Living like kings on food stamps

• Health

Sampling local farmers' markets

• Opinion

Corporate welfare for Lockheed Martin

Why should giant defense contractor Lockheed Martin get a hotel tax break that it doesn't need and Maryland can't afford?

• Lockheed Martin Corp.

Corporate welfare for Lockheed Martin

• Opinion

Sequester madness

The U.S. economy is imperiled by an irrational — yet seemingly inescapable — approach to federal budget cutting.

• Opinion

Sequester madness

• Opinion

Obama has failed the nation

President Obama has failed the nation and should not be returned to office

• Barack Obama

Obama has failed the nation

• Opinion

Poverty line doesn't begin to cover those who need help

The Maryland Food Bank president says a large percentage of those in need make far more than the federal poverty line.

• Opinion

Poverty line doesn't begin to cover those who need help

• Family

Filling the gap: Young families rely more and more on aid to make ends meet

Amanda and Ryan Velivlis, of Parkville, like millions of families rely on government aid to make ends meet since the recession began, said Diana Pearce, author of the 2012 Self-Sufficiency Standard report for Maryland.