Foster Care and Adoptive Parenting
Baltimore County Department of Social Services has an urgent need for foster and adoptive families to ensure our children have one of the most basic human rights - to live in a safe and loving environment. You can make the difference to a child who needs your love and support.
Connecting Children to a Family
For this unique parenting experience, we will provide you with education, support and training. Our staff of foster and adoptive case specialists will work with you personally, providing ongoing support once you accept a child in your home. We also provide you with financial and medical assistance.
To become a foster/adopt parent, you must:
- Attend an information meeting
- Complete a registration and authorization for clearance forms
- Complete 30 hours of pre-service training
- Obtain your first aid and CPR certifications
- Meet all home study requirements
- Complete the home study approval process
To qualify as a foster/adopt parent, you need to:
- Have patience, flexibility and a commitment to children
- Be over age 21
- Be able to meet your family’s financial obligations
- Have room for a child
- Be in good physical and mental health
- Agree to have a background check; including criminal background
- Agree not to smoke around the foster child (in your home or in your car)
You do not qualify for foster/adopt parenting at this time if you have:
- Any life changes within the past six months
- Financial difficulties and do not have stable and sufficient income
- Declared bankruptcy within the last two years
- Foreclosure (or pending foreclosure) within the last two years
- Anyone in the household found guilty with child protective service
- Anyone in the household arrested for D.W.I./D.U.I within the last five years
- Anyone in the household convicted of a felony or drug related offense within last five years
- Owe back child support
- Live in a one bedroom
Contact Us
Call us at 410-853-3170, e-mail fosteradopt@baltimorecountymd.gov or send us your comments online.
Drumcastle Government Center
6401 York Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21212
Related Links
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Maryland Department of Human Resources Foster Care
- Maryland Department of Human Resources Adoptions
Revised April 12, 2012
