Children's Commissioner Expresses Concern Over Prevent Referrals

Why it matters locally: The Children's Commissioner's concerns about the Prevent program's suitability for certain youth could have implications for how similar counter-terrorism and support initiatives are implemented and reviewed in Maryland, potentially affecting local agencies involved in child welfare and public safety.

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Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner, expressed concerns regarding the suitability of children referred to the government's Prevent counter-terrorism program. She stated that a growing number of these children require help that the program does not provide. De Souza indicated that many children referred to Prevent are not appropriate candidates for the program. She clarified that these individuals instead need different types of support.