In Maryland, there are approximately 3,800 children and teens in out-of-home care (or foster care). Out-of-home care is intended to be a short-term plan for children and youth until they can reunify with their parents, guardians, or other relatives. The local departments of Social Services make every effort to place children with kin – relatives or other individuals with whom the child or family has a connection. When kinship care is not possible, children and youth live with families who are not related to them. In Maryland, the dedicated families that open their hearts and homes to children in out-of-home-care are called “Resource Parents.”
Children in out-of-home care have experienced trauma and loss and they need love, patience, and stability until they can reunify with their families. Resource parents play a critical role in the reunification process by supporting the child’s relationship with their parents, while they make the necessary changes for their children to safely return home. When children see their caregivers working as a team, it increases feelings of safety, reduces the trauma of being separated from their families, and helps them navigate the significant changes in their lives. Many children in out-of-home care maintain life-long connections with their families even if they cannot reunify with them. When reunification is not possible, resource parents may choose to adopt or become a guardian while continuing to support the relationship with birth families.
Frequrently Asked Questions for Prospective Resource Parents
Out-of-home care, also known as foster care, is a temporary living situation for children who have experienced abuse or neglect and cannot live safely with their parent(s). Social workers from the Departments of Social Services work diligently to reunify children with their parents or guardians. Maryland is becoming a kin-first state and every effort is made to place children with relatives or individuals with whom the child or family has a connection. Reunification with family is the goal of out-of-homecare, though when this cannot occur, other options are explored to provide children with a safe and nurturing home.
Resource parents are people who are licensed by the Department of Social Services to provide care for children in need. They work with birth families toward changes that will allow the children to return to safe homes. Resource parents are part of a team of professionals who support children and their families. As a resource parent, you will not only provide basic essential needs, but also the love, guidance, support and opportunities that children need.
To become a licensed resource parent, you must be at least 21 years of age and a United States citizen or a non-citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence. You must be able to meet your family’s financial obligations, pass background clearances, own or rent a home that meets fire, health, and safety standards, and be willing to support the child’s family in the plan for reunification.
A resource parent is not known to the child before placement. A kinship provider is 18 years of age or older and is related to a child through blood or marriage, adoption, tribal law or custom, cultural custom, or practice. A kinship care provider may also have an established relationship with the child, a strong familial or other significant bond to the child, or a person identified by the child’s parent as an acceptable caregiver.
Yes. Resource parents can be married, divorced, widowed, or single.
Yes. We value diversity among our resource parents and work hard to recruit and retain resource families who are as diverse as the children and families we serve.
Willingness to respect and work with the people who are important in the child’s life including birth parents, and relatives
Willingness to support children in developing a sense of positive identity that includes their race, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion
Flexibility and adaptability
Patience, empathy, and good listening skills
Sense of humor
Perseverance when things get tough and not being afraid to ask for support
Stability and consistency in your personal and family life
Ability to teach and guide children without the use of physical discipline
Willingness to learn new parenting techniques
Resource parents are part of a team of professionals who support children and their families during the reunification process. In addition to providing daily care and supervision, resource parents are involved in the children’s educational services, recreational activities, and physical and mental health care. Resource parents are also important in supporting the relationships between children and their families.
Yes, with training and support, resource parents must be willing to communicate with the parents of children in out-of-home care while actively working toward establishing a supportive co-parenting partnership. This starts by treating the child’s parents with dignity and respect, sharing contact information, such as an email address, that can be used to keep the parents updated on their child’s health and well-being, supporting the plan of reunification, and the child’s relationship with their family. At times, co-parenting may be one of the most complex responsibilities of being a resource parent, but many resource parents also find it to be the most rewarding. To learn more about the importance of building relationships between resource and birth parents, please click here.
A child’s stay in out-of-home care depends on several factors including their family situation.
Children in out-of-home care may range from infancy to 21 years of age. There is a need for resource parents for children of all ages, but the greatest need is for youth 12 years of age and older, sibling groups, and children with special medical and mental health needs.
In Maryland, resource parents are licensed to care for children from birth through 21 years of age. Resource parents who believe they can only meet the needs of children of a specific age and gender should discuss this with their home study worker.
In Maryland, resource families can have a total of 6 children under age 18 in the home, including children through birth, adoption, and out-of-home care. No more than 2 children can be younger than 2 years of age. Under certain circumstances, the Department of Social Services may permit up to eight children in a home, including the resource parent’s children, when required to care for a sibling group or provide short-term (up to 90-day) emergency care of a child. However, there may not be more than 6 children in the home if there is an infant in the home or if three of the children are younger than 6 years old.
Resource parents receive a monthly care stipend to help meet the needs of each child in out-of-home care. In addition to the monthly care stipend, funds exist to help with the cost of child care and some transportation-related expenses.
Support and guidance from caseworkers
Monthly support groups
Active and welcoming local resource parent associations
Resource family celebrations and appreciation events
Frequent opportunities to attend trainings and conferences
Respite care
Support and advocacy from the Maryland resource parent ombuds: Insert link to the flier
Children in out-of-home care qualify for state health insurance, free school meals, and WIC (WIC ages birth-5 years).
Medical and educational decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, depending on what is in the child’s best interest. All attempts are made to reduce the number of changes children encounter when they enter care, so great effort is made to maintain the child’s same school and providers.
The cost is minimal. The training program is free and there is no cost to complete the home study. Resource parents are responsible for paying co-pays for medical exams and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training fees.
While the goal of out-of-home care is reunification, adoption may occur when a child is unable to reunify with their family. Children adopted from out-of-home care almost always maintain a relationship with their birth family. Many children who are adopted are adopted by the families who provided them with out-of-home care.
Contact your local Department of Social Services to express an interest in becoming a resource parent. You are encouraged to ask about the process and how to register for the next resource parent training program.
Complete the pre-application paperwork, including background clearances.
Complete the resource parent training program. In two-parent homes, both parents must complete the training.
Complete and submit additional paperwork that includes questionnaires, medical forms, contact information for references, and copies of personal documents.
Participate in the family home study process.
Help spread the word about the need for resource families in Maryland by following the Maryland Department of Human Services on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MDHumanServices.
Learn about the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program at www.marylandcasa.org.
Donate to your local out-of-home care program during jury duty through the Generous Jurors Program.
