Maryland Foster Care by County: LDSS Directory and Local Differences

Maryland is one of the few states that gives its counties direct control over foster care licensing. The state Department of Human Services sets the rules, but the 24 Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) — one for Baltimore City, one for each of Maryland's 23 counties — handle every part of the process: applications, training, home studies, inspections, and placement decisions.

This matters practically because calling the wrong office wastes real time. Your LDSS is determined entirely by where you live — not where you work, not which county borders you, and not which office has the most convenient parking. The LDSS where you reside must license you.

Why County Matters More Than State

The statewide COMAR regulations (Title 07, Subtitle 02) define the minimum requirements that every county must meet. But within those minimums, counties vary significantly in:

• PRIDE training schedules. High-volume suburban counties like Montgomery and Prince George's run PRIDE cohorts monthly or every six weeks. Rural counties in Western Maryland or the Eastern Shore may run cohorts only twice a year. Missing a session often means waiting for the next full cohort — a delay that can push your licensing back by months.
• Processing speed. Smaller counties have smaller licensing teams. A county like Kent or Somerset may have one or two licensing workers handling the entire county's applications, which means longer wait times at every step.
• Kinship infrastructure. Baltimore City and Prince George's County have highly developed kinship support programs. Smaller rural counties may have fewer dedicated kinship liaisons.
• Differential board rates. Prince George's and Charles counties operate under a higher monthly payment rate due to cost-of-living factors and competition with District of Columbia rates.

Montgomery County Foster Care

LDSS: Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Social Services Address: 1301 Piccard Drive, Rockville, MD 20850 Phone: (240) 777-4600

Montgomery County is the state's most populous jurisdiction and the highest-income market for foster care recruitment. The county's massive federal workforce — NIH in Bethesda, federal contractors in Rockville and Silver Spring — means many applicants are policy-literate professionals who need clear procedural guidance more than motivation. PRIDE runs frequently, often monthly, which helps keep the licensing timeline shorter than the state average.

The county has a strong network of faith-based foster care support through organizations like the Woven Ministry at McLean Bible Church's Rockville campus, which provides respite nights and support teams for resource families.

Baltimore County Foster Care

LDSS: Baltimore County Department of Social Services Address: 6401 York Road, Baltimore, MD 21212 Phone: (410) 853-3000

Baltimore County borders Baltimore City but is a entirely separate jurisdiction. County residents must apply through this office, not through BCDSS. Baltimore County uses the PRIDE curriculum (not MAPP, which is used by Baltimore City).

Anne Arundel County Foster Care

LDSS: Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services Address: 7500 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 Phone: (410) 269-4500

Anne Arundel is home to the state capital, Annapolis, and a significant federal workforce around Fort Meade. Median household income in the county exceeds $120,000 — a demographic that aligns well with the professional resource parent profile. The county has a historic connection to faith-based foster care through Chesapeake Christian Fellowship in Davidsonville.

Howard County Foster Care

LDSS: Howard County Department of Social Services Address: 9780 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046 Phone: (410) 872-8700

Howard County consistently ranks among the wealthiest counties in the United States, with a median household income above $146,000 and bachelor's degree attainment over 50%. The county has a smaller foster care caseload relative to its population, which means licensing workers can be more responsive. The community-oriented design of Columbia, the county seat, means resource parents often have access to well-organized local support networks.

Prince George's County Foster Care

LDSS: Prince George's County Department of Social Services Address: 805 Brightseat Road, Landover, MD 20785 Phone: (301) 909-2000

Prince George's County operates under the higher "differential" board rate (alongside Charles County), reflecting the higher cost of living and proximity to DC rates. The county has a large and active African American community with strong faith-based foster care networks — St. Stephen Baptist Church (MERCY House) and Uplift Baptist Church in the District Heights and Hyattsville areas run active family support programs. The Prince George's Foster Parents Association focuses specifically on kinship care and community resources.

Frederick County Foster Care

LDSS: Frederick County Department of Social Services Address: 1888 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701 Phone: (301) 600-4550

Frederick is a fast-growing county bridging the suburban D.C. corridor and Western Maryland. The LDSS serves a geographically large area, and training schedules may not run as frequently as in the larger suburban counties.

Harford County Foster Care

LDSS: Harford County Department of Social Services Address: 2 South Bond Street, Bel Air, MD 21014 Phone: (410) 836-4700

Charles County Foster Care

LDSS: Charles County Department of Social Services Address: 200 Kent Avenue, LaPlata, MD 20646 Phone: (301) 392-6400

Charles County is one of two Maryland counties operating under the differential board rate, which is higher than the standard statewide rate. If you live in Charles County, confirm the differential rate with your licensing worker when you begin your application.

Carroll County Foster Care

LDSS: Carroll County Department of Social Services Address: 1232 Tech Drive #1, Westminster, MD 21157 Phone: (410) 386-3300

Cecil County Foster Care

LDSS: Cecil County Department of Social Services Address: 170 East Main Street, Elkton, MD 21921 Phone: (410) 996-0100

Cecil County borders both Delaware and Pennsylvania. If you have lived in either state within the past five years, your LDSS must request protective services clearances from those jurisdictions — a process that can take additional weeks. Begin the out-of-state clearance requests as early as possible.

Complete Maryland LDSS Directory

Rural Maryland: Training and Physician Access

If you live in Garrett, Allegany, Dorchester, Somerset, or other rural counties, two bottlenecks require advance planning:

PRIDE training. Smaller counties sometimes partner with a neighboring jurisdiction for shared PRIDE cohorts. Garrett County, for example, often coordinates with Washington County in Hagerstown. Asking your LDSS whether "courtesy training" in a neighboring county is allowed can shave months off your timeline.

Mandatory medical exams. All applicants and household members need a physical exam and TB test. In rural Eastern Shore and Western Maryland counties, physician capacity is limited. In Somerset County — which has among the highest rates of child mortality in the state — wait times for medical appointments can be significant. Schedule your physicals within the first two weeks of starting your application, not at the end.

The Maryland Foster Care Licensing Guide includes county-specific guidance, verified contact details, and what to expect from your local LDSS at each stage of licensing.

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