Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is all about PEOPLE. At the core of this work is ensuring that people who make up organizations, companies, corporations, etc., experience fairness in its various forms and are seen as unique individuals who have something valuable to contribute to the community in which they serve. Here at BCC, we are beginning a journey that is focused on creating opportunities for members of our community to be present, heard, and harnessed. BCC’s Open Forum initiative is the first of many that will be creating a safe opportunity for members of our community to come together to honor the hard work that we all do, share ideas on how to push forward in the right direction, and maintain a culture where we can learn and grow together. Continue reading…
Read more from BCC Launches Open Forum InitiativesBCC celebrates Professional Social Work Month
BCC celebrates our social worker staff during Professional Social Work Month. The National Association of Social Workers has made this year’s theme, “Social Workers Are Essential.” Social workers are essential to BCC’s purpose of enriching communities, one family at a time.
Here at BCC, social workers breathe life into our innovative and transformative programs. Our social workers provide high-quality integrated care that is grounded in evidence-based practices. BCC treatment plans support the healing of trauma and foster healthy communities for youth and their families.
A special THANK YOU to all the social workers who work tirelessly to serve our local communities.
Are you a social worker who wants to join BCC? Check out this position. We look forward to hearing from you!
Explore more career opportunities.
Read more from BCC celebrates Professional Social Work MonthBCC Therapist Intern Application
Launch your career with real, hands-on experience!
Do you have the ability to effectively work with youth and families; excellent written and oral communication skills as well as the ability to be self-motivated and organized? We welcome you to apply today!
BCC gives you the access and professional training you need to excel in your field. We offer internships year-round and many interns are hired for full-time employment.
Read more from BCC Therapist Intern ApplicationThe BCC Compass – February 2021
Meet Courtney Mercado, our new EDI facilitator
Please join me in welcoming Courtney Mercado to our Board of Child Care community! Continue reading…
Read more from The BCC Compass – February 2021BCC Celebrates Black History Month
Black History Month started in 1915, half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. In September of 1915, the Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). This organization dedicated itself to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent. It created the beginnings of what we now know as Black History Month (BHM).
Black History Month allows everyone to share, celebrate, and understand the impact of black heritage and culture. Black History Month continues to inspire our BCC community and reminds us of the important core values of Empathy and Relationships.
In the past, present, and future, BCC pursues and walks in our purpose, carrying our core values. In 2020, to gain our footing in a tumultuous environment, we established the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee. This committee has continued to meet monthly and is helping BCC navigate these challenging and unprecedented times. We are grateful for their guidance this month as they enrich our learning about Black History and nourishing our skills in empathy and relationships.
The great thing about Black History Month is that it’s for us all! Learning about the contributions of our Black brothers and sisters is essential. Learning about Black history is part of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion journey and helps us develop our core value of Empathy and nurtures the core value of Relationships. Please, reflect on where you are in your journey. Are you unaware, an ally, advocate, or activist? I ask this question as I reflect on where I am in my journey – how far I’ve come and how far I need to go yet. I also think about where BCC is on its EDI journey. One thing I know for sure. We have a long way to go. But we are moving in a promising direction. During Black History Month, consider how you might drive yourself to your next level:
- Achieve allyship through research and self-reflection.
- Educate yourself on the journey of black people in this country.
- Find books by black authors, listen in on podcasts, participate in a community service project that targets underserved communities.
- Push yourself to engage in reflective practices that allow you to see where you can serve as an ally.
It is only through educating yourself and action that you will develop a skill set to be an ally and gain an appreciation for the Black community that extends past Black History Month.
As we celebrate Black History Month this February, we are dedicated to illuminating and amplifying Black contributors’ work in mental and behavioral health. However, we will not stop there. Through 2021 and beyond, we are committed to highlighting our underrepresented mental and behavioral health professionals from diverse backgrounds, celebrating their important contributions to our field.
Learn more about the BCC’s commitment to embracing equity, diversity, and inclusion by reading the BCC Compass, our new blog, created to share our pursuit of an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment at BCC.
A special THANK YOU to BCC’s staff members who identify as Black and/or African American.
Thank you for all that you do to contribute to our purpose of “enriching communities, one family at a time.” Choosing to be a mentor and part of the healing and recovery of the children and families we serve makes a difference that lasts and matters.
Laurie Anne Spagnola, MSW
President and CEO
Board of Child Care
The BCC Compass – January 2021
Let’s talk about bias.
Bias, a tendency, inclination, or prejudice toward or against something or someone, is something we all have. It can be innate or learned, and while some biases are helpful (like avoiding someone who has purposely caused you harm), many are not. Continue reading…
Read more from The BCC Compass – January 2021In Memory of Bob Kimmons

A letter from BCC’s CEO:
Talented mentors walk a fine line. They must carefully balance constructive feedback and ask objective questions, while allowing those to whom they are providing counsel to decide what path to choose.
On December 14, 2020, Board of Child Care (BCC) lost a longtime board member, fierce advocate, and loyal friend. Bob Kimmons was a man who inspired every single member of BCC’s leadership team to be our best selves. In the days since his passing, each of us has reflected on what Bob has meant in our lives. Unilaterally, we all said “mentor” without hesitation.
Read more from In Memory of Bob KimmonsThe BCC Compass – December 2020
The BCC Compass – December 2020
Meet our Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee
This year, we created our first Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee to provide collaborative problem solving and find new ways to foster recovering and healing at BCC.
Read more from The BCC Compass – December 2020Introducing: The BCC Compass
BCC rocks the polls

Despite the unprecedented times that we currently live in due to COVID-19, four years swiftly passed since our last election! Americans across the U.S. are making sure they exercise their suffrage rights, and so are our youth here at BCC!
The “Rock the Polls” initiative educated our eligible youth on their state and national candidates and provided bipartisan answers to questions youth arose.
In total, 22 eligible youth residing across Baltimore’s Main Campus, Colesville, Hagerstown, Nicodemus, Denton, West Virginia, and TFC are now registered to vote and ready to rock the polls! This is a milestone for our youth as it is their first time utilizing their voice to positively impact our community! It is the beginning of our youth’s journey into social action; however, it doesn’t stop here! We want to encourage our youth to take an active voice in social issues and future state and national elections to come.
We are the role models for the kids that we serve. Make sure YOU get out there and rock the polls!
Read more from BCC rocks the polls