Health Insurance Coverage – In 2012, 4.3% of children under the age of 19 in Washington County were uninsured. While this indicator is improving, the LMB remains concerned with this data, citing that all children should have access to healthcare.

Substance Abuse – While there has been a downward trend in the percentage of twelfth graders reporting having smoked cigarettes in the last 30 days, Washington County has historically had a significantly higher percentage than the average for the State of Maryland. The trend for the percentage of twelfth graders reporting having drunk alcohol in the last 30 days has been flat with nearly half of those surveyed indicating that they had drank alcohol in the last 30 days. Finally, there has been a downward trend in the percentage of twelfth graders reporting having smoked marijuana in the last 30 days, which may be attributed to a significant national effort to abate the use of illegal substances.

Tomorrow's Leaders

All Washington County children and youth are insured and are equipped with the knowledge to make healthy decisions regarding drugs, alcohol, sex, and other risk-taking behaviors. Youth will learn positive ways to deal with peer pressure, mental health issues, bullying, interpersonal conflicts and other negative influences. Ultimately, this generation of youth will end the cycle of poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse and teen pregnancy.