Maryland Department of Human Services

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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

Social Media

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.
Helen Zukowski
Oct 06, 2020

The workers phone is filled up .they donot answer their calls you cannot leave a message it's been 3 days now

Rating: 1
maria alvarez
Sep 30, 2020

These people never pick up the phone .... i stayed on the line for hours and NOTHING... no call back nothing ... like geez im just calling about my food stamps

Rating: 1
Theresa Lawson
Sep 22, 2020

can't get through to anyone, your just on hold for hours without talking to no one, been going through this for a month!

Rating: 1
Joel Bratton
Sep 22, 2020

PEOPLE ARE RUDE NO FOLLOW UP FOR MONTHS I'M WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO CALL ME

Rating: 1
Kenya Onley
Sep 16, 2020

I have spent 2 hours on hold today trying to get in touch with someone to help me with my account. The online system is constantly out of whack and when you try to call the 800 for assistance there is no answer and the call back feature does not work . Extremely frustrating

Rating: 1