Maryland Association of Resources for Families & Youth (MARFY)
MARFY, a program of Maryland Nonprofits, connects child-caring organizations, advocates, and leaders to enhance care systems for Maryland’s youth and families.
MARFY, a program of Maryland Nonprofits, connects child-caring organizations, advocates, and leaders to enhance care systems for Maryland’s youth and families.
The MARFY community advocates for policies, provide professional development, and create opportunities to strengthen the impact of private providers statewide.
MARFY’s mission is to protect and enhance systems of care for Maryland’s youth and families, fostering well-being and success.
MARFY’s vision is a state where every child and family has access to resources that ensure safety, health, and long-term stability.
Join MARFY:
With a dedicated lobbyist in Annapolis, MARFY advocates for policies that improve care systems, including funding reform, streamlined regulations, and effective services. We have access to State and local public officials at the most senior levels of government.
MARFY represents the interests of private providers on every state-level committee, coalition, task force, and workgroup that impacts their work with children and families.
MARFY influences state and national policies to improve care systems for Maryland’s youth by:
Be a part of transforming Maryland’s care systems for youth and families. Your support helps ensure every child has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Donate to MARFY
MARFY membership connects you with a collaborative network and positions you as a leader in improving care systems for Maryland’s youth. Membership is open to child-caring organizations, government agencies, consultants, and advocates dedicated to Maryland’s youth and families.
Benefits include:
Join MARFY now!
MARFY offers membership options for nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Membership is open to child-caring organizations, government agencies, consultants, and advocates dedicated to Maryland’s youth and families.
For for-profit companies, individuals, consultants, and government agencies looking to build relationships with the nonprofit sector, annual dues are $770.
Membership benefits include:
Membership dues are based on your organization’s operating budget:
Budget Range | Annual Dues Amount
$1 – $24,999 | $220
$25,000 – $99,999 | $330
$100,000 – $399,999 | $880
$400,000 – $999,999 | $1,540
$1 million – $3.9 million | $2,200
$4 million – $6.9 million | $2,970
$7 million – $10.9 million | $3,960
$11 million – $15.9 million | $5,060
$16+ million | $6,600
Our core priorities are:
Our overarching goals are:
We influence policy at state and national levels by:
Our three coalitions provide opportunities for providers to meet and collaborate:
MARFY’s Executive Council, composed of senior leaders from member organizations, guides its programming and advocacy efforts. Together, they ensure MARFY’s initiatives are responsive to the needs of Maryland’s youth and families.
For more information about MARFY, contact help@mdnonprofit.org.
Chair, Pressley Ridge
Simone Bramble is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Maryland. She has a 25-year history of serving children, youth, and families, working directly with individuals and families in private practice, residential treatment, and foster care. Simone has more than twelve years of experience heading social service organizations in Maryland.
Simone received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Macalester College and her Master of Social Work from the University of Minnesota. She currently serves as Executive Director of Pressley Ridge, a social service organization providing community-based services. She oversees operations in Maryland and Delaware.
Simone Bramble is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Maryland. She has a 25-year history of serving children, youth, and families, working directly with individuals and families in private practice, residential treatment, and foster care. Simone has more than twelve years of experience heading social service organizations in Maryland.
Simone received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Macalester College and her Master of Social Work from the University of Minnesota. She currently serves as Executive Director of Pressley Ridge, a social service organization providing community-based services. She oversees operations in Maryland and Delaware.
Vice-Chair, Nexus Woodburne
Bryon Fracchia has over 20 years working in the field of child welfare, education, and child development. Bryon is currently the Executive Director of Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing.
Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing is part of Nexus Family Healing, a national nonprofit network of mental health agencies with over 50 years of restoring hope for thousands of children and families through outpatient/community mental health services, foster care and adoption, and residential treatment.
Bryon Fracchia has over 20 years working in the field of child welfare, education, and child development. Bryon is currently the Executive Director of Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing.
Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing is part of Nexus Family Healing, a national nonprofit network of mental health agencies with over 50 years of restoring hope for thousands of children and families through outpatient/community mental health services, foster care and adoption, and residential treatment.
Policy Chair, Arrow Child & Family Ministries
Robert Basler is Associate Vice President at Arrow Child and Family Ministries, where he oversees Residential, Foster Care, and Community Services. Mr. Basler has a Bachelors in Psychology from Loyola University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He is a Trust-Based Relational Intervention Practitioner.
Robert Basler is Associate Vice President at Arrow Child and Family Ministries, where he oversees Residential, Foster Care, and Community Services. Mr. Basler has a Bachelors in Psychology from Loyola University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He is a Trust-Based Relational Intervention Practitioner.
Policy Chair, The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region
Steve Acerno is a licensed social worker with over twenty years of experience in the child welfare field. He is currently the Treatment Foster Care Director at The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region in Harford County.
Steve’s experience ranges from providing direct clinical services in private residential and out-patient settings, to working as a foster care supervisor through a local Department of Social Services agency, and currently overseeing a treatment foster care program.
Steve is passionate about advocating for vulnerable youth and families as well as working on the goal of finding permanency for children in the foster care system. Steve is excited about the opportunity to represent MARFY as the Chair of the executive council and looking forward to strengthening MARFY’s partnerships with stakeholders across the state.
Steve Acerno is a licensed social worker with over twenty years of experience in the child welfare field. He is currently the Treatment Foster Care Director at The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region in Harford County.
Steve’s experience ranges from providing direct clinical services in private residential and out-patient settings, to working as a foster care supervisor through a local Department of Social Services agency, and currently overseeing a treatment foster care program.
Steve is passionate about advocating for vulnerable youth and families as well as working on the goal of finding permanency for children in the foster care system. Steve is excited about the opportunity to represent MARFY as the Chair of the executive council and looking forward to strengthening MARFY’s partnerships with stakeholders across the state.
Secretary, The Arc, Baltimore
Ashley was born, raised and currently resides in Baltimore County, Maryland. She has obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Salisbury University and Bachelors in Sociology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Ashley then went on to graduate from the University of Maryland School of Social Work with a Masterof Social Work where she had a Clinical and Management concentration in Child and Family Social Work.
Ashley is currently employed as the Director of Foster Care & Clinical Services for The Arc Baltimore. In this position she enjoys watching her staff grow professionally and clinically, while supporting the needs of the youth that they serve. Ashley enjoys working with adolescent and teens and she has a history of professional service in many facets of Child Welfare, both the public and private arenas.
Ashley has received extensive training in Child Trauma including Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy. She has worked with children and families who have experienced mental health and behavioral concerns as well as intellectual and developmental disabilities.
During her downtime Ashley enjoys traveling the Caribbean with her husband and six year old daughter, spending time with her family or in church where she is a member of Steward Board, Stewardship and Finance Committee and is Vice President of Missionary Society. Her current focus is on expanding her knowledge both clinically and spiritually.
Ashley was born, raised and currently resides in Baltimore County, Maryland. She has obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Salisbury University and Bachelors in Sociology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Ashley then went on to graduate from the University of Maryland School of Social Work with a Masterof Social Work where she had a Clinical and Management concentration in Child and Family Social Work.
Ashley is currently employed as the Director of Foster Care & Clinical Services for The Arc Baltimore. In this position she enjoys watching her staff grow professionally and clinically, while supporting the needs of the youth that they serve. Ashley enjoys working with adolescent and teens and she has a history of professional service in many facets of Child Welfare, both the public and private arenas.
Ashley has received extensive training in Child Trauma including Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy. She has worked with children and families who have experienced mental health and behavioral concerns as well as intellectual and developmental disabilities.
During her downtime Ashley enjoys traveling the Caribbean with her husband and six year old daughter, spending time with her family or in church where she is a member of Steward Board, Stewardship and Finance Committee and is Vice President of Missionary Society. Her current focus is on expanding her knowledge both clinically and spiritually.
Connect with a community of advocates, providers, and leaders working to improve outcomes for children!
