Maryland Department of Human Services
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Contact Information
310 West Saratoga Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
United States
Online Contact Form
Baltimore, MD 21201
United States
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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
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Sep 15, 2022
I been waiting for 4 hours straight and still haven’t been able to talk to anyone. I’m struggling right now and they just don’t care!
Sep 13, 2022
UNBELIEVABLE dysfunction, rudeness, and zero communication from this office. Call back feature absolutely does not work. Fix this dumpster fire of an agency ASAP please.
Sep 09, 2022
I wish I could give ZERO STARS!!! The Absolute WORST! Received an email saying I missed my interview for receiving Food Benefits, then a week later received a letter in the mail saying the same thing. Never received any type of notice stating that I had to come in for an interview. Been trying to get in contact with someone to get some clarity and nothing. Not even through the so called form they have you fill out online in the "Contact Us" section. 9 times out of 10, I'm a very understanding person but I don't understand how a government agency could be so careless in how they treat people who are reaching out to them for help.
Jun 21, 2022
H O R R I B L E! This is a disgrace forreal. I submitted my redetermination a month in a half before it was even due. The new documents don't even have a case workers name on them, they cut my stamps off for no reason. This is crazy! I couldn't give 0 starts so I gave 1
Jun 17, 2022
don’t know how to answer phones.