Helpful Information

Presentation provided by Families Rising for Tax Benefits for Resource Families.  Information includes Claiming Children as Dependents, Recovery Rebate Credit, and 2021 Federal Adoption Tax Credit

Here is a list of questions you should ask when called for a new placement.  Before accepting a child into your home, you want to make sure you have as much information about the child as possible in order to make an informed decision about whether or not they will be a good fit.  Remember, BCDSS does not always have the answers to the questions below and the answers they have may be inaccurate, but they should be able to provide you with some information.  

This document does not replace or supersede the “What to Expect” document from DSS. The below advice was assembled by 4 resource parents who went through the approval process in Baltimore City within the past two years. It represents a variety of experiences and is meant to give you some parameters to guide your expectations. It cannot account for all possible scenarios. Please reach out to the Baltimore City Resource Parents Association at BaltimoreCityRPA@gmail.com, if you have any questions during the process.

First, the TBRI empowering principles address the ecological (external/environmental) and physiological (internal/physical) needs of the child. By ensuring these basic needs are met, the effectiveness of the connecting and correcting principles are greatly improved. Second, the connecting principles address relational and attachment needs, focusing on awareness, engagement, and attunement. Third, the correcting principles teach self-regulation and appropriate boundaries, and promote healthy behaviors for caregiver and child (see Appendix for examples of typical activities for each of the principles).

Maryland Family Network is a free and confidential referral service that will help you find the best childcare for your family. The program is affiliated with all of Maryland’s regulated childcare providers. Our referral options include:

Helpful tax resources for Resource Parents provided by Foster Ombuds - Becky Rice

Direct Deposit tip sheet for Resource Parents provided by Foster Ombuds - Becky Rice.  Form can be found here: ACH/Direct Deposit Authorization for Vendor Payments (marylandtaxes.gov

A summary of Resource Parents Rights in Maryland.

SSA Policy SSA-CW# 19-16 - Explanations of board rates and other expenditures.  

SSA 26-07 CW Respite Care for Kinship Caregivers and Resource Families Policy

Find the Associations current By-Laws here.  

Revised guidance on Out-of-State travel for youth in care.  Travel letter no longer required in most cases.  

Reconsideration documents including Training, CPR & First Aid Training, Financial Stability Verification, Pets, Background Clearances, Medical, Resource Provider Agreement, Home Health Assessment, and Back-Up Provider.  It is imperative that reconsiderations are completed on time as BCDSS cannot allow homes to remain open that are out of compliance. If the reconsideration standards are not completed by the annual recon due date, you run the risk of having your home closed.  Resource homes that are out of compliance because all recon standards have not been met on time will be put on hold.  Homes that are 60 days out of compliance will be closed. 

DHS policy and combined submission paperwork for daycare reimbursement.

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Maryland’s Social Services Administration (SSA) established a referral bonus program that rewards licensed resource parents and kinship caregivers with $500 for each successful referral of a new non‑kin resource family who becomes fully licensed. The policy outlines eligibility rules—such as the referred family not having an active LDSS license within the past three years—and sets a limit of four bonuses per fiscal year unless additional funds are available. Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) are responsible for promoting the program, coordinating referrals, maintaining documentation, and reporting usage, with all payments drawn from Recruitment and Retention Funds.

The 2024 Maryland Adoption & Guardianship Comparison Chart provides a concise overview of how adoption and guardianship differ across key areas such as legal authority, parental rights, financial assistance, and long‑term permanency expectations. It is designed to help families, caregivers, and professionals quickly understand the distinctions between these two permanency options so they can make informed decisions about what best supports a child’s stability and well‑being.