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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Mar 22, 2022
I WAS ON HOLD OVER TWO HOURS! TO ASK A QUESTION.. I INITIALLY ASKED FOR A CALL BACK WHICH SAID WOULD BE IN 85 MINUTES.. THE CALL NEVER CAME. THEN I WAITED AN ADDITIONAL HOUR TO TALK TO SOMEONE FROM MY COUNTY AND THEN WHILE I WAS TALKING THEY HUNG UP ON ME! TERRIBLE SERIVICE! IF I COULD GIVE IT LESS THAN A 1 I WOULD
Mar 17, 2022
The people at DHS are crooks in charge of handing social services to the needy trying to do what they are supposed to do to get help for themselves and their families. The do everything illegal in the book to delay and deny your benefits including making the system broken and ineffective to stall your life and waste your time. DO NOT let this stop you from getting benefits. Make sure you stay on top of what they are doing at all times for the help you know you are eligible for and fulfilling their legal responsibilities. Keep the fight alive especially in hard times. Never give up.
Mar 14, 2022
I wish I could give zero stars but I cant..This number is a joke..Ive been on hold for 2 hours+ until my battery died.This is a regular thing..I even put in for a call back which no one ever did..I be better off going down there in person, if I could..SHAME ON YOU STATE OF MD.
Mar 14, 2022
Yeah bad help
Feb 08, 2022
I called everyday for 2 weeks and couldn't get nobody on the phone, so I started leaving messages for callbacks three times a day everyday they called me back within two or three days and got things straightened out as best as they could which wasn't very good but if you can't get a person on there call everyday and get the call back and keep doing it three four times a day everyday until you get a call back eventually they'll get tired of your messages and call u