Maryland Department of Human Services Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) for CPS Background Clearances
- The CPS Background Clearance check involves a search of the Maryland Confidential Database to determine whether an individual seeking employment, volunteering opportunities, adoption, or other direct contact with children has been found responsible for indicated child abuse and/or neglect in the State of Maryland.
- The CPS Background Clearance packet, provides comprehensive guidance for submitting a clearance request. It includes detailed instructions on the process, timelines for processing, and contact information for the Local Department of Social Services (LDSS) and a Consent to Release of Information Form.
- For employment or volunteering with children,
- Camp Administrators or Youth Personnel for camps in Maryland,
- TFor Court Proceeding,
- To become a licensed foster or adoptive parent, or
- For individuals who want to verify their child welfare history for their licensure, childcare services, and more
- If you are requesting a clearance for a Maryland Camp, Public School, or other Child Serving Agency, you must use the MyMDBenefits Portal for submissions. If you do not currently have an account with MyMDBenefits Portal, please review the instructions here.
- All other requests are encouraged to be submitted via the myMDBenefits Portal, or
- The Maryland State CPS Background submission page here.
- Applicants who have never resided in the state of Maryland at the time of their request and are unable to submit their request electronically may mail the completed form to:
- Applicants who reside within the state of Maryland who are unable to submit requests electronically should mail the completed packet to the LDSS in the Maryland jurisdiction where the applicant currently resides. Check here for the most up-to-date LDSS addresses.
- Maryland Department of Human Services, Social Services Administration
CPS Background Clearance Unit
25 S. Charles Street, 11th floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
- A response letter is sent via secure email to the identified agency/individual listed under “Part I: Purpose of Search”.
- To request a copy of a submitted request, please contact the agency/individual authorized to receive the applicant’s confidential information.
- All sections of the request form must be completed;
- Addresses must include:
- City, State and Zip Code of the requestor and applicant;
- Applicants must include a social security number (SSN);
- Applicants who do not have a SSN available must provide further documentation such as a passport from their country of origin or resident card;
- Requests must:
- Be legible;
Be signed by the applicant (or parent/guardian);
Have a notarized signature and seal;
Requests submitted with signatures/dates exceeding 60 days will be returned to the requestor and require a new request form to be submitted for processing.
Legible photocopies will be accepted.
- Requests that are missing information for Part I, Part II, are illegible, the use of corrective tape (whiteout) and/or missing the notarized signature/seal will be returned.
- The signature in Part III does not match the name provided in Part II (unless the individual is under the age of 16 in which the parent/guardian would sign).
- There was no attestation for the requestor’s application.
- You are an individual seeking a clearance and missing a Notary or notary requirements.
- Requests received electronically via the myDHRBenefits Portal are processed within 14 business days, excluding weekends and holidays. This timeframe may be extended if there is indicated CPS history or if additional records are needed to identify the indicated maltreator.
- Requests received by mail or webpage submission are processed within 3-4 weeks. This timeframe may be extended by an additional 2-4 weeks if there is a reported CPS history or if additional records are needed to identify the indicated maltreator.
- These timeframes may also be extended during peak season which includes Summer camp sessions and the start of a school year.
- Individuals that have been determined to have history are forwarded to the Local Department of Social Services (LDSS) who conducted the investigation and may require additional time to review and respond.
- If you are informed of a history of indicated findings and wish to check the status of your right to appeal, please reach out to the Local Department of Social Services by calling 1-800-91PREVENT and ask to speak to their CPS Appeals Coordinator.
- DHS does not conduct criminal background checks. For more information, please visit the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services page here.
- DHS does not complete employment verification forms. For more information, you may contact the state agency point of contact listed here.
- DHS can only report our child welfare abuse or neglect history.
- You may request a “Summary of History” by contacting the Department that provided you with the letter. You will need to have the applicant sign the “CONSENT FOR RELEASE OF INFORMATION BACKGROUND CLEARANCE: AUTHORIZATION TO DISCLOSE SUMMARY OF HISTORY”
- Please contact your Office of Child Care Regional Licensing Office to schedule the Orientation Training.
- The Division of Early Childhood, Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is responsible for processing the applications for In-State Day Care Providers and Employees. For more information click here: Maryland State Department of Education.
- MSDE must process their own background checks to comply with COMAR Md. Code,Educ. §6-113.2 and Code of Maryland Regulations 13A.07.14.
- MSDE policy requires their providers to submit a paper application.
- Requests for in-state day care licensing should be directed to the corresponding Office of Child Care Regional Licensing Office: Licensing Forms
- Please email the Background Clearance Unit at mdcps.clearances1@maryland.gov. A staff member will respond to your inquiry within 48 business hours. You may also contact the local department directly:
| LDSS NAMES | LDSS EMAILS |
|---|---|
| Allegany County | adultandchildservices.allegany@maryland.gov |
| Anne Arundel County | aadss.clearances@maryland.gov |
| Baltimore City | BCDSS.CLEARANCES@maryland.gov |
| Baltimore County | dlbacodss_backgroundclearance_DHS@maryland.gov |
| Calvert County | calvertdss.cpsclearances@maryland.gov |
| Caroline County | caroline.clearances@maryland.gov |
| Carroll County | carroll.adultandchildservices@maryland.gov |
| Cecil County | DLCecilBackgroundChecks_DHS@maryland.gov |
| Charles County | charlescounty.cpsclearances@maryland.gov |
| Dorchester County | dorchesterdss.cpsclearances@maryland.gov |
| Frederick County | fcdss.cpsclearances@maryland.gov |
| Garrett County | GCDSS.CPSBackgroundClearances@maryland.gov |
| Harford County | harcodss.clearances@maryland.gov |
| Howard County | howco.cpsbackgroundclearances@maryland.gov |
| Kent County | kentcodss1.cpsbackgroundclearances@maryland.gov |
| Montgomery County | MCCWS1CPSBackgroundClearances@montgomerycountymd.gov |
| Prince George’s County | pgcdss.clearances@maryland.gov |
| Queen Anne’s County | qacodss1.cpsclearances@maryland.gov |
| Somerset County | scdss.intake@maryland.gov |
| St. Mary’s County | stmaryscounty.cpsclearances@maryland.gov |
| Talbot County | talbot.cpsclearances@maryland.gov |
| Washington County | wcdss.screening@maryland.gov |
| Wicomico County | dlwi_screeningintake_wi_dhs@maryland.gov |
| Worcester County | worcdss.cpsbackgroundclearances@maryland.gov |
- If your child welfare agency is conducting a current CPS investigation on a family that may have lived in Maryland and you are requesting their history, please Email: child.safety@maryland.gov. Include the request, family demographics and a photocopy of your agency/state identification on your agency’s letterhead. A CPS Background Clearance Packet is not required.