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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Jan 10, 2023
You wait an hour when calling DHS customer service and they can't even give you your case manager they need to hire an entire new staff and during the hiring process they need a competent test. What customer service training do they give for the customers service agents to continually tell you they dont know or give the wrong information it's sad every customer sérvice agent should have a common answer I guarantee alot of employees don't don't know what there DHS job title requires them to do it's 10% effort with 98% of the staff . To make a change we must contact the corporate office
Jan 08, 2023
ANSWER THE PHONE! PEOPLE ARE POOR AND STARVING AND NEED HELP.
UPDATE: I AM SO SICK OF YALLS BULLSHT. I EVEN CALLED THE HOUR OF MY INTERVIEW AND WAS TOLD SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BY THE END OF THE DAY; NO ONE EVER DID. THEN I GET AN EMAIL SAYING "YOU MISSED YOUR APPOINTMENT."
Dec 12, 2022
Its extremely difficult to get quality customer service when it comes to dealing with any department involving the state. You can never get through on the phones, there are no alternative ways to contact representatives. The websites are not user friendly and they almost always do not work. This is a inconvenience to the customers who are really in need of human services help. Especially in emergency situations.
Dec 05, 2022
This place is useless and unprofessional. 👎🏾👎🏾
Nov 30, 2022
The worst of the worst with nothing being done for improvement. Read the reviews. Horrible process that just causes stress and wastes a lot of valuable time. Non-existing help or customer service.