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

Most people who start looking into Maryland foster care assume the state Department of Human Services runs the show. They call the main DHS line, wait on hold, and get redirected to their county. Then they call the county, get a different number, and start over. Weeks pass. Nothing happens.

Here is what you actually need to know before you dial a single number: Maryland's foster care system is county-administered. The 24 Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) — one for each of Maryland's 23 counties plus Baltimore City — are the licensing bodies. The state DHS in Baltimore sets the rules, but your LDSS issues your license and assigns your caseworker. Everything you need to do, you do through your county office.

Once you understand that, the process becomes far more manageable.

Who Qualifies to Foster in Maryland

Maryland's eligibility requirements are broader than most people expect.

Age: You must be at least 21. There is no formal maximum age, though applicants 60 and older receive a more thorough health assessment.

Household composition: You can be single, married, divorced, widowed, or in a same-sex partnership. Maryland law explicitly prohibits denying an application based on sexual orientation or gender identity. If you are married, your spouse must also be part of the application.

Housing: You can rent or own. Renters are fully eligible, provided the home meets the physical safety standards under COMAR 07.02.25.

Income: Maryland does not require a high income. The standard is "sufficient income" — meaning you can support your own family's needs without relying on the foster care maintenance payment. You will need to show pay stubs, W-2 forms, or tax returns. The foster stipend is intended to cover the child's costs, not supplement your household income.

Criminal history: Absolute disqualifiers include felony convictions for child abuse or neglect, crimes against children, crimes of violence (rape, homicide), or spousal abuse. Physical assault, battery, or drug-related convictions within the past five years are also significant barriers. All adults in the household are subject to checks — not just the applicants.

Health: All applicants and household members need a physical exam and a TB test. The home must be smoke-free, including no vaping or e-cigarettes, when children in care are present or transported.

The Four Phases of Licensing

Phase 1: First Contact and Information Meeting (Days 1–30)

Contact the LDSS in the county where you live — not the state DHS number. Ask for the foster care recruitment unit or "Welcome Line." Expect to attend a 90-minute information meeting, which gives an overview of what fostering involves. Bring both partners if you are applying as a couple.

At this stage you will receive the formal application (Form SSA 554) and begin submitting preliminary paperwork: certified driving records from the MVA, proof of income, and birth certificates for everyone in the household.

Phase 2: PRIDE Training (Days 31–90)

Maryland requires a minimum of 27 hours of pre-service training, divided into nine three-hour sessions. Most counties use the PRIDE curriculum (Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education). Baltimore City uses the MAPP program, but the content covers the same competencies.

PRIDE covers five areas: protecting children from harm, meeting their developmental and attachment needs, supporting the birth family's relationship with the child, helping children maintain connections, and working as part of a professional team with caseworkers and courts.

You also need to complete First Aid and CPR certification, Safe Sleep training if you plan to care for infants, and medication administration training.

Scheduling matters. In Montgomery, Prince George's, and Howard counties, classes run frequently — sometimes monthly. In rural counties on the Eastern Shore or in Western Maryland, PRIDE may run only twice a year. Missing a session can mean waiting for the next full cohort, which can push your licensing back by several months. Ask your LDSS about the upcoming schedule before you plan anything else.

Additional certifications required include First Aid and CPR (through Red Cross or an approved provider), Safe Sleep, and medication administration.

Phase 3: Home Study (Days 91–120)

The home study is a structured assessment conducted by a social worker from your LDSS or a licensed private Child-Placing Agency (CPA). It includes at least three home visits, individual and joint interviews with everyone in the household, and a written autobiography from the applicants.

You will need three personal references. At least two must be interviewed directly, and no more than one can be a relative. If your children are school-age, you will also need a reference from a school professional.

The "SAFE" instrument (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation) is the standardized assessment tool Maryland uses across all 24 counties.

Phase 4: Physical Inspection

The home inspection runs concurrently with or just before the home study. A fire inspector or licensing worker checks the home against the COMAR 07.02.25 safety standards. Common requirements:

• Working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on every level and near each bedroom
• Firearms stored unloaded in a locked container, with ammunition stored separately in a second locked container
• All medications and hazardous materials inaccessible to children
• Window coverings installed after October 1, 2010, must be cordless (Maryland's "Angel's Law")
• Each child must have their own bed; children over age 2 cannot share a room with an adult
• If you have an in-ground pool, a 4-foot fence with a locking gate is required

Failing the inspection does not end your application, but it does require a follow-up visit — which adds time. Running a self-audit before the official inspection is the fastest way to stay on schedule.

Background Check Timeline

Background checks are the most time-sensitive step. All household members aged 18 and older must complete:

• Fingerprint-based criminal history through Maryland CJIS and the FBI
• A search of the Maryland Central Registry for child abuse and neglect history
• Sex Offender Registry checks (Maryland and National)
• Driving record from the MVA

Live Scan electronic fingerprinting returns results in 4 to 7 days. Manual fingerprint cards can take up to 180 days. Use Live Scan through an Identogo or MorphoTrust center. Do not mail manual cards unless there is no alternative.

If you have lived outside Maryland within the past five years, your LDSS must request protective services clearances from those other states. Get ahead of this early — some states take weeks.

What Happens After You Are Licensed

Once your license is issued, you enter the placement queue. A first placement could come within 24 hours or take several months depending on availability and the profile of children your household is approved to care for.

Maryland's primary goal is family reunification. Most children who come into care have a case plan directed at returning them to their birth family. You will attend regular case planning meetings with the assigned caseworker, and you have a statutory right under Maryland law to be notified of and heard at court proceedings related to the child in your care.

If reunification is not achieved after 12 to 18 months, the permanency plan may shift to adoption. At that point, if you want to adopt the child you are fostering, your existing home study can often serve as the basis for the adoption home study.

The licensing process from inquiry to placement typically takes 120 to 180 days. The most common delays are fingerprint processing (use Live Scan), PRIDE scheduling conflicts, and missing references that fail to return agency questionnaires on time.

For a complete walkthrough of Maryland's licensing requirements, including county-specific LDSS contact details, home inspection checklists, and training schedules, the Maryland Foster Care Licensing Guide covers the full process in one place.

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