The Blue Ribbon Project's Backpacks of Love program supports children entering the foster care system by providing them with essential items they need during a difficult transition. Each backpack has age-appropriate supplies, including clothing, toiletries, school supplies, and comfort items like blankets or stuffed animals. These backpacks are designed to ease the stress for children who often enter foster care with little to no personal belongings. The program relies on donations and community support to make a positive difference, helping children feel cared for and valued during challenging times.

The Blue Ribbon Project’s Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma Support Groups provide a safe, supportive environment for adults who have experienced trauma in childhood, such as abuse or neglect. These groups offer a space for survivors to connect, share their stories, and find understanding among others with similar experiences. Led by trained facilitators, the support groups focus on healing, resilience, and empowerment, helping participants process their pasts and build tools for a healthier, more fulfilling future. By fostering a compassionate community, The Blue Ribbon Project aims to break the cycle of trauma and support each survivor on their path to recovery.

The Blue Ribbon Project’s Aging Up...Not Out Program supports young adults transitioning out of the foster care system, helping them navigate the challenges of adulthood with confidence. As these individuals "age out" of foster care, they often face obstacles in finding stable housing, securing employment, and managing personal finances. This program provides essential resources, life skills training, and mentorship to empower them as they establish independence. By offering guidance and a support network, Aging Up...Not Out aims to ensure that these young adults don’t face the world alone but instead have the foundation they need to thrive beyond foster care.

The Foster Friends Program helps children in care explore extracurricular activities and provides opportunities not normally afforded to them. If a foster child wishes to participate in soccer, Taekwondo, play a musical instrument, take ballet, or other activities, The Blue Ribbon Project will sponsor the child and help enroll and pay for the child to participate. 

The Blue Ribbon Project’s College Support Program is dedicated to helping foster youth pursue higher education by providing the resources and support they need to succeed in college. This program offers guidance in navigating the college application process, securing financial aid, and finding scholarships specifically for students from foster care backgrounds. Once enrolled, participants receive ongoing mentorship and access to essential supplies like textbooks and dorm essentials. By reducing barriers to higher education, the College Support Program empowers foster youth to achieve their academic and career goals, promoting long-term stability and success in their personal and professional lives.

The Blue Ribbon Project’s Celebrations Club is a program that ensures children in foster care feel valued on special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays. Through this initiative, volunteers and donors provide personalized gifts, decorations, and treats to help foster youth celebrate important milestones. The Celebrations Club aims to bring joy and a sense of belonging to these children, who may otherwise miss out on traditional celebrations. By recognizing and honoring these moments, the program helps foster youth feel appreciated and reminds them that they are cared for, even during challenging times.

The Blue Ribbon Project’s Mirah’s Closet is a free resource for children and teens entering foster care, providing them with clothing, shoes, and personal items tailored to their age, size, and needs. Many children arrive in foster care with few belongings, and Mirah’s Closet helps ensure they have essential items to feel comfortable and prepared. The closet is stocked through community donations and includes a variety of seasonal clothing, pajamas, shoes, and hygiene products. By offering these necessities in a dignified way, Mirah’s Closet aims to support children’s self-esteem and well-being as they adapt to their new environment.

One of the best tools in fighting child abuse is having the ability to recognize it when it's occurring. When abuse is discovered, it is often learned the abuse had been occurring for some time, however, the signs were overlooked. In this program, we will discuss the signs of several types of abuse and what to be on the lookout for, what to do when you suspect abuse, disclosures, supporting the child, as well as mandated reporting in Maryland. There is no cost to attend or host this training program.