Foster care (also known as out-of-home care) is a temporary service provided by each state for children who cannot live with their families. Children in foster care may live with relatives or with unrelated foster parents. Foster care can also refer to placement settings such as group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living.
In Maryland, foster care is a system designed to provide a safe, temporary living situation for children who cannot live with their families due to abuse, neglect, or other family issues. The Maryland Department of Human Services, through its Social Services Administration, is responsible for the oversight and administration of the foster care program. Children in foster care may be placed with relatives, known as kinship care, or with unrelated foster parents. The state also utilizes other placement options such as group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living programs for older youth. The goal of foster care in Maryland is to provide a stable and nurturing environment for children while working towards family reunification, adoption, or another permanent living arrangement. Maryland state statutes and regulations outline the qualifications for foster parents, the rights of children in foster care, and the procedures for foster care placement and oversight.