On October 30, 2026, Governor Moore and the Maryland departments of Human Services, Public Safety and Correctional Services, and Juvenile Services announced a $500,000 investment in the Safer Stronger Together initiative. The funding will support efforts in Hagerstown, Salisbury, and East Baltimore to reduce crime and expand opportunities for young people.
According to the release, the initiative connects families with services and resources while empowering communities to address public safety solutions. This investment builds on a successful two-year pilot program in the three communities.
Press Release: Office of the Governor of Maryland
Published October 30, 2026. Reproduced in full from the Office of the Governor of Maryland.
Moore-Miller Administration Announces New Investment to Bolster Safer Stronger Together Community Safety Initiative
ANNAPOLIS, MD , Governor Moore and the Maryland departments of Human Services (DHS), Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), and Juvenile Services (DJS) today announced an additional $500,000 investment in the Safer Stronger Together (SST) initiative in Hagerstown, Salisbury, and East Baltimore. The investment will help sustain local efforts to drive down crime and expand opportunities for young people.
SST advances this work by bringing together state agencies and community partners to coordinate family support and fund community-led public safety solutions. Navigators connect families with services and resources, while Community Action Boards help residents set neighborhood priorities and direct funding to local organizations addressing them.
The initiative is a key part of the Moore-Miller administration’s all-of-the-above public safety strategy, which has helped drive historic reductions in violent crime by combining historic investments in law enforcement with efforts to address the root causes of crime and build stronger communities.
“The work to keep all Marylanders safe and secure requires an all-of-government and all-of-the-above approach to public safety,” said Gov. Moore. “This joint investment is evidence that our administration is dedicated to investing in our public safety officials, as well as the communities they serve to protect, to continue to drive historic lows in violent crime.”
“Young people have tremendous potential, and their futures should not be defined by their pasts,” said Department of Juvenile Services Secretary Betsy Fox Tolentino. “Through SST, we’re helping them build positive relationships, discover their strengths, and see new possibilities for themselves. When we invest in young people’s potential, we help create the conditions for them to succeed.”
Following a successful two-year pilot program in the three communities, this additional investment will help SST build on its progress in Hagerstown, Salisbury, and East Baltimore.
In Baltimore, more than 4,600 young people have been served by SST, by mediating over 170 youth conflicts that might otherwise have led to violence. Additionally, the initiative has connected more than 1,145 fathers returning from incarceration with support networks to help them reintegrate into their communities.
In Salisbury, SST has served more than 900 young people and connected 147 of those served with workforce development resources, including career coaching and assistance obtaining professional certifications. After-school programming, including tutoring and mental health support, was extended to 231 young people, 85% of whom maintained a GPA above 2.75.
Hagerstown has seen similar progress, with SST serving 262 young people and connecting 58 of the group with community mentors who help them pursue career opportunities. Additionally, 66 young people completed coursework toward an Amazon Web Services cloud practitioner certification.
“Lasting progress depends on effective coordination between government and community partners,” said Acting Department of Human Services Secretary Stacy L. Rodgers. “SST helps align resources, coordinate family support, and empower communities to lead solutions that meet their needs. Through this investment, we’re strengthening partnerships that truly make our communities safer and stronger.”
“It’s been inspiring to see SST mature from vision to execution,” said Community Action Board Member and President of New Broadway East Community Association Dr. Doris Minor Terrell. “The solutions to systemic challenges like crime and poverty can be found in our communities if leaders would only listen to the neighbors they serve. SST is bringing the families who need these solutions most to the decision-making table and getting results. This additional investment will allow us to continue connecting young people who might otherwise be overlooked to mentors and enrichment opportunities. It will also help more fathers connect with the support systems necessary to play productive roles in their children’s lives. Our work is far from done, and I know the SST Family is grateful for this opportunity to keep uplifting communities across Maryland.”
The additional investment in Hagerstown, Salisbury, and East Baltimore builds on the work of residents and 23 grassroots community organizations to reduce crime by connecting young people with services and opportunities. The funding will support resources such as grant writing, technical assistance, and administrative capacity-building to help community organizations sustain and strengthen their work over the long term.
“Public safety is strongest when we combine effective prevention with strong community partnerships and sustained investment in the neighborhoods we serve,” said Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs. “SST helps address challenges before they escalate into violence by connecting young people and families with meaningful support and opportunities. This investment will help communities continue that work and build on the progress Maryland is making to reduce violence and keep residents safe.”
The Moore-Miller administration has made improving public safety a top priority by focusing on both prevention and enforcement, and Maryland has seen historic declines in violent crime since Governor Moore took office. Statewide, homicides have decreased by more than 40%, putting Maryland on pace for its lowest homicide rate in more than 40 years. Nonfatal shootings have fallen by more than 50%.
