Governor Moore Announces Sweeping Foster Care Reforms Aimed at Supporting Youth with Complex Needs

Governor Wes Moore has announced significant reforms designed to enhance Maryland’s foster care system, with a particular focus on providing improved support and services for young people facing complex needs. These initiatives, approved by the Board of Public Works, will establish uniform statewide standards for one-on-one care and expand the availability of licensed foster care placements. The Maryland Department of Human Services will oversee these changes, aiming to create a more consistent, effective, and accountable system for all children in its care.

Previously, the provision of one-on-one care for youth with complex needs relied on decentralized, localized referral processes. This often led to inconsistencies in the quality and delivery of support services, as the Maryland Department of Human Services did not have direct oversight. The newly implemented statewide standards mandate that one-on-one caregivers meet rigorous requirements, including minimum age, CPR and first aid certification, and specialized training in areas such as medicine management and crisis intervention. These standards are designed to ensure that all nearly 3,800 youth in foster care, regardless of their jurisdiction, have access to high-quality, individualized care tailored to their specific behavioral and physical health requirements.

In addition to enhancing direct care, the reforms also address the critical need for adequate placement options. The state has approved contracts to open 37 new beds in licensed group homes, providing safe, supervised environments for young people. This initiative builds upon the 92 treatment foster care beds that became available in 2025, which offer family-based settings with resource parents trained to support youth with significant emotional or health challenges. These expanded placement opportunities are crucial for stabilizing youth and ensuring they receive appropriate care in a home-like setting.

The financial investment in these reforms is substantial. Contracts for one-on-one services will total up to $115.6 million through November 2028, with an option for a two-year renewal. To ensure accountability, the eight organizations providing these services will be subject to regular on-site reviews and quarterly compliance assessments, with services requiring reevaluation every 30 days. Furthermore, contracts to expand placement options will allocate up to $743.9 million to create approximately 637 new potential placements over three years. Provider compensation for these placements will be based on the actual number of children housed, ensuring responsible use of taxpayer funds. Providers are also now prohibited from refusing or dismissing youth referred for placement, a move intended to alleviate a long-standing barrier to care.

These reforms represent a continuation of the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to addressing systemic issues within Maryland’s foster care system. Previous actions include the implementation of a new rate structure designed to better compensate providers offering specialized support, and a 33% increase in the kinship placement rate to encourage more children to live with family members. The administration has also made significant strides in reducing the number of children staying in hotels and has decreased the number of young people remaining in hospitals beyond medical necessity by up to 65% over the past year. These efforts collectively aim to ensure that every child in Maryland’s care, irrespective of their unique needs, receives the support necessary to thrive.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Office of Governor Wes Moore

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