County presents Enough Act plan targeting child poverty pockets in Westminster

Ed Singer, manager of the Carroll County Local Management Board and a former county health officer, told the Westminster Mayor and Common Council on Monday that the Enough Act is a state-led, place-based initiative to end child poverty and the county has asked the LMB to focus on two high-poverty areas, including a census tract that covers parts of Westminster.

Singer said the program — an acronym for Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments and Households — relies on cross-sector partnerships and local input. "The whole goal of this program is to end child poverty," Singer said, adding the LMB is currently acting as a "community quarterback" while county and city officials help identify rooted community partners to lead local action.

The presentation laid out the Enough Act’s priorities: ensuring access to high-quality education and care from birth through career pathways; affordable, high-quality health care including maternal and behavioral health; pathways to family-sustaining work and wealth-building; safe, affordable housing; and thriving commercial and…