How to Become a Foster Parent in Maryland

Right now, hundreds of children in Maryland need foster families who can provide a loving, stable home while they wait to reunite with their birth parents. There are approximately 3,800 children in Maryland’s foster care system, but only 1,450 licensed foster homes according to the most recent data.

Fostering children requires responsibility and commitment. You should take time to reflect and become informed before diving in. For the right person though, becoming a foster parent in Maryland is a journey that’s both manageable and extremely rewarding. 

This guide will provide a step-by-step roadmap to becoming a licensed foster parent in Maryland. We’ll walk you through the requirements, the process, the financial support you’ll receive, and direct you to official resources for more information and support. 

The Need for Foster Homes in Maryland

The Maryland Department of Human Services (MDHS) oversees child welfare services across the state through local Departments of Social Services in each county. Foster parents are the backbone of this system. They provide temporary, loving care for children who the state has determined cannot safely live with their birth parents. Meanwhile, the parents and state work towards achieving the conditions that are necessary to reunite the family. 

Your role as a foster parent is crucial. The state has an especially strong need for foster parents willing to care for youth 12 years and older, sibling groups, and children with special medical and mental health needs. 

Without enough foster homes, children may be placed far away from their communities, schools, and support systems. Many of these children have already experienced trauma and loss. By offering them a temporary, loving home, you allow them to stay closer to their community and provide them with stability during a difficult and uncertain time. 

Foster Parent Requirements in Maryland

While requirements for becoming a foster parent in Maryland may vary based on the county you live in, here are the typical conditions you must meet. Note that Maryland uses the term “resource parent” for foster parents and other caregivers, and “out-of-home care” for foster care. 

• Age: You must be at least 21 years old.
• Residency: You can be a homeowner or renter, but you must be a resident of Maryland. Foster care is administered at the county level through local Departments of Social Services, and some of these departments have further county residence requirements. 
• Marital Status: You may be single, married, divorced, or widowed. Maryland values diversity in foster parents and welcomes LGBTQ+ candidates. 
• Financial Stability: You must be able to meet your family’s financial obligations, independent of the foster care stipend.
• Health: All household members must have a medical exam that includes analysis of tuberculosis tests or X-rays. The adults in the household must have follow-up medical exams at least every two years. Staff from the local DSS office will verify that household members over the age of 60 are in adequate physical condition to care for the child. 
• Background Checks: All adults in the household must pass State and Federal criminal background checks, which include fingerprinting and child abuse/neglect registry checks from any state where they’ve lived in the past 5 years.
• Home Environment: Your home must pass safety inspections and receive written approval from the local health department and fire officials. This includes having working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and safe storage for medications, firearms, and dangerous household items. You must have adequate space for the child, including their own bed and room for privacy and personal belongings. 
• Training: Applicants must complete 27 hours of state-mandated training prior to becoming foster parents, followed by 10 hours of continuing education training each year during their service. 

How to Become a Foster Parent in Maryland: The Step-by-Step Process

The process for becoming a foster parent in Maryland is fairly straightforward. Your county’s department of social services can offer guidance and resources to help you with the following steps. 

1. Attend an Informational Meeting: The first step to becoming a foster parent is to attend an information session to get an overview of the process and your responsibilities. These sessions vary between counties. Some have online orientation videos that can be accessed at any time, while others schedule in-person and virtual information sessions at specific dates and times. MDHS also offers a comprehensive handbook to help you prepare. 
2. Complete the Application: Contact your county’s department of social services to begin the application process. Most counties will assign a home study worker to help guide you through the application process. You should be prepared to submit medical documentation, proof of financial stability, references, and documentation of marital status. 
3. Participate in Pre-Service Training: Before becoming a foster parent, you’ll need to complete 27 hours of training, which takes place over nine sessions. Most Maryland counties use Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education (PRIDE) training program, but Baltimore uses Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP). Additionally, foster parents are required to complete 10 hours of continuing education each year. 
4. Complete the Home Study: The home study is a collaborative process where a social worker visits your house and meets your family. In Maryland, your assigned caseworker will help you prepare for the visit. They’ll be checking to make sure your house meets safety standards, and that your family is ready to receive the child. 
5. Receive Your License: After completing all requirements, you’ll receive your foster parent license and be ready to welcome children into your home!

Financial Support: The Maryland Foster Care Stipend

Foster parents in Maryland receive a monthly stipend to help cover the costs of caring for the child. This payment is not a form of employment or income. It’s a non-taxable reimbursement to help provide for the child’s needs. Foster parents must have a stable source of income in addition to the stipend. 

The monthly reimbursement rates in Maryland vary according to the child’s age and the level of care they need. 

Regular Care:

• Ages 0-11: $887 per month
• Ages 12 and older: $1,024 per month

Intermediate Care (for children who need extra care due to special physical, emotional, or behavioral needs):

• Ages 0-11: $1,008 per month
• Ages 12 and older: $1,158 per month

Medical and Dental Coverage

Children in foster care receive medical and dental insurance through Maryland Medicaid at no cost to foster families. This coverage includes doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, dental care, vision care, mental health services, and more.

Additional Support

Beyond the monthly stipend, resource parents may receive reimbursement for certain expenses such as long-distance transportation for the child to visit their birth parents. Your county DSS office can provide detailed information about these and other reimbursable expenses. 

Adopting from Foster Care in Maryland

The goal of foster care is to eventually reunite the child with their birth family. However, in some cases, this is not possible, and the child becomes legally available for adoption. In these cases, priority is often given to the foster parents who have already developed a bond with them to help maintain stability and continuity. To streamline this process, parents approved for foster care in Maryland are automatically approved for adoption as well.

Children adopted from foster care are generally eligible for adoption assistance, which provides ongoing financial support for the child’s care. This assistance can include a monthly subsidy, medical coverage, and support services. 

To learn more about adoption from foster care or exploring adoption-specific services, visit the Maryland Department of Human Services Adoption page.

For more details, see our guide to Adoption in Maryland.

Get Started: Maryland Foster Care Resources

Ready to take the next step? Here are the official resources to help you begin your foster parent journey. To get started, contact the Maryland Department of Human Services, or use the link below to find your county’s Department of Social Services. 

• Official State Agency: Maryland Department of Human Services
• Website: https://dhs.maryland.gov/out-of-home-care/
• Phone Number: 1-800-332-6347
• Find a Local Licensing Agency or County Office Near You

Sources:

• ​​https://dhs.maryland.gov/out-of-home-care/
• https://www.fostercarecapacity.com/data/total-licensed-foster-homes
• https://dhs.maryland.gov/local-offices/baltimore-city/adoption-foster-care-services/how-to-become-a-foster-parent/
• https://www.pgdssfosterparents.com/requirements-for-fostering
• https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/home-study-requirements-prospective-foster-parents-maryland/
• https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/background-checks-prospective-foster-adoptive-and-kinship-caregivers-maryland/
• https://dhs.maryland.gov/documents/Foster%20Care/ResourceParentHandGuide2016_web.pdf
• https://dhs.maryland.gov/local-offices/baltimore-city/adoption-foster-care-services/how-to-become-a-foster-parent/
• https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/CYF/CYFFosterCareMeetings.html
• https://annearundelfostercare.com/becoming-a-foster-adoptive-parent/
• http://icpcstatepages.org/maryland/foster-care/
• https://www.cwla.org/pride-training/
• https://www.childally.org/mapp
• https://dhs.maryland.gov/documents/SSA%20Policy%20Directives/Child%20Welfare/SSA%2019-16%20CW%20Guidelines-for-Foster-Care-Board-Rate-and-Expenditures-1.pdf