State Foster Care System Is Undergoing Significant Change | Here's Why

State foster care system is undergoing significant change | Here's why

Kanaiyah Ward's death prompted legislative changes to prevent children from being placed in unlicensed settings. The Department of Human Services had been placing children in hotels, offices, hospital "overstays" and homeless shelters — a practice that was ordered to end following a scathing audit and Ward's death.

Nearly $900 million OK’d to bolster Maryland's foster care system; unlicensed housing settings eliminated

BALTIMORE — Maryland’s beleaguered foster care system received approval Wednesday to spend almost $900 million to add more placements and strengthen standards of care for youth with the greatest health and behavioral needs. Contracts approved by the Board of Public…

Lawmakers introduce bills to improve Maryland foster care system after teen girl's death

Maryland lawmakers are pushing for major changes to the state’s foster care system after a teen’s death exposed serious failures.

Gov. Moore Announces Over $800M Investment In Foster Care System Improvements - The BayNet

NOTE: The Office of the Governor shared the following press release: ​ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Governor Wes Moore today announced additional reforms to enhance service, oversight, and capacity in Maryland’s foster care system. Through contracts approved during this morning’s Board of Public Works meeting, the Maryland Department of Human Services will establish statewide standards to ensure that youth in foster care with complex needs receive one-on-one…

After girl’s hotel death, Maryland will spend $1.2B to make foster care safer

Maryland’s troubled state agency for foster children inked more than a billion dollars’ worth of contracts Wednesday with private providers to expand capacity in hopes of reducing reliance on controversial hospital or hotel stays.

Governor Moore Announces Additional Reforms to Maryland’s Foster Care System

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has announced new reforms to strengthen and better protect children in the foster care system, including contracts establishing statewide standards for one-on-one care for youth with complex needs and expanded placement capacity. Governor Moore said the changes are designed to replace a fragmented system with a more consistent, accountable approach—ensuring children are safer, better supported, and have greater access…