Focus on the First Years

Focus on the First Years gathers information on Baltimore County services helpful to families with very young children.

About Baltimore County Department of Social Services

Social Services provides financial assistance, food stamps, medical assistance and housing assistance to eligible individuals and families. We also assist with protecting children from abuse and neglect by providing protection services and services designed to assist fragile families care for their children. The department ensures that children who must be removed from their homes have safe and appropriate foster home placement in which they can be protected and nurtured until they can be returned home or adopted.

Financial Assistance

• Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) is available to families with dependent children when other resources and services do not fully meet the family’s needs. Food Stamps assist eligible families in providing nutritious meals for their children. Medical Assistance provides health insurance to families receiving TCA. Visit one of our district offices to apply.
• Need Help Paying for Fuel and Electricity? Energy Assistance provides help with heating fuel and assistance with electric bills.
• Need Help Paying for Child Care? Day Care (Purchase of Day Care - POC) assists eligible families living in Baltimore County with childcare costs while parents work, attend school, or training.
• Need a Rental Subsidy? The Housing Choice Voucher Program helps low-income families or elderly/disabled persons pay their rent.
• The Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) is an innovative, voluntary program that helps Section 8 participants achieve economic independence over a five-year period.

Family and Children's Services

• Suspect a Child is Being Abused or Neglected? Child Protective Services includes reporting abuse or neglect and services to fragile families.
• Services to Families with Children - This program offers voluntary in-home social work services to families with serious problems that might result in abuse or neglect.
• Services to Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents - Provides in-home counseling, pregnancy prevention and referrals to ensure safe and stable situations for pregnant or parenting youth.
• The Young Parent Support Center is a comprehensive family support and development center for parents of children from birth to four years.
• Want to be an Adoptive Foster Parent? Foster and adoptive parenting is a challenging experience and the rewards are unparalleled.

Revised May 26, 2006