Maryland Department of Human Services

Contact Information

310 West Saratoga Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
United States

Online Contact Form
DayHours
Monday 8:30 AM-5 PM
Tuesday 8:30 AM-5 PM
Wednesday 8:30 AM-5 PM
Thursday 8:30 AM-5 PM
Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Claim Listing

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There are many Maryland children waiting to be part of a family.  Some of the children have special educational, emotional, or medical needs; this information is confidential and does not appear in the children's descriptions. More detailed information about the children can be shared with adoptive parents as they are completing the adoption preparation process.

Foster Care is a temporary Service that provides short-term care and supportive services to children who are unable to live at home because of child abuse or neglect. Foster children live in family foster homes and group care settings.

All Maryland counties and Baltimore City operate foster care programs. Foster care caseworkers work with the birth and foster families to develop the most appropriate permanency plan for each child. Reunification with parents, placement with relatives, or adoption are examples of permanency plans. If for some reason a child cannot reunite with their family, the child, depending on their age, receive services that teach them to be independent young adults.

 


Services and information

  • Traditional Foster Care
  • Emergency Foster Care
  • Respite Foster Care
  • Adoption

Requirements to become a foster parent

Understanding the licensing requirements is the first step, as they vary by state. In Maryland, potential foster parents must meet the following criteria:

  • 21 years of age or older
  • Live in a safe home, either a house or an apartment
  • Undergo a criminal background check and fingerprinting
  • Remain financially stable
  • Able to support a child financially
  • Undergo a medical examination
  • Attend a medical reexamination every two years
  • Provide three references
  • Attend necessary parent training/education courses
  • A minimum of two home visits by an approval worker
  • Child support clearance
  • No use of physical punishment allowed
  • Receive a fire inspection and health clearance from local departments

The foster care agency you work with will help you to meet these qualifications. They answer your questions, provide parent education training, conduct home visits, and more. As such, they'll be your first point of contact as you prepare for your first placement.

Remember that it will take time to go through the approval process. The home study takes the longest, consisting of lots of paperwork, interviews, inspections, etc. However, you'll be a licensed foster parent in Maryland when it's over.


Ratings and Reviews

Average user rating

1.4 / 5
Rating breakdown
5
4
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2
1
If you have an experience with this agency, please write a review.
Allen Williams
Sep 12, 2023

Same thing everybody else has said. These are lazy overpaid government workers. The best thing you can do is not need anything from this office because if you do they are absolutely no help.

Rating: 1

Shay W
Sep 11, 2023

A typical day at DHR for me. You wait in line to a apply for assistance, just to wait to get 30to 40mins just to get told you have to go to Rockville. What is the point of allowing people to apply for assistance . So now I wasted half my morning because I got nothing accomplished at this location. Then the 1800 DHR number has you on hold for hours . It’s okay guess to get treating like a animal and have to run around in Montgomery County all day. Silver Spring is supposed to help you.

You got to Rockville just to get told that they can’t help you help you then you get referred back to silver Spring they can’t help you either. All I’m doing is going back and forth while my situation gets worse by the day. People fall on hard times that’s a natural human thing and for those who can get through life without falling on their face because life is so perfect for them good for them too. But please do better DHR because some people need assistance so that their situation can get corrected

Rating: 1

Amber Pritchard
Sep 08, 2023

Have tried and tried to get ahold of them for days and as usual I'm on hold for 2 hours ask for a call back and never get one . When they do answer say they can't help and I have to go online. My food stamps has me listed as the same person twice with making triple the amount of make a month. It's just crazy certain people are responsible for the food that goes in your family's mouth and they just leave you high and dry with no answers . Honestly if I didn't need them I would've quit dealing with the stupid stuff a long time ago

Rating: 1

Anson Rodriguez
Aug 16, 2023

I trust these people less than the president

Rating: 1

Kell Mahomes
Aug 15, 2023

This department took my kid while I was in a ventilator, dying in the hospital, handed her over to an abuser, then filed saying I neglected her while I was in the hospital. After I was released months later trying to learn how to walk/talk again, I tried to fight it but their JUDGE stated that since I was so thin (I was still really Ill mind you) and my hair wet from the rain, that I neglected her. I couldn’t believe this! I literally DIED in that hospital and came out to that. I had issues with them prior where they held a meeting with all of these people and my kid and I and literally hanged up on me telling me that taking away her internet was child abuse as a disciplinary action. Unreal! Hate them. They are awful

Rating: 1