Maryland DHS Faces Lawmakers' Scrutiny Over Foster Care Failures

Maryland's Department of Human Services (DHS) is facing intense scrutiny and calls for accountability over its handling of the foster care system following a scathing audit revealing persistent issues. DHS Secretary Rafael Lopez, in office since early 2023, acknowledged inherited problems including the placement of foster children in unlicensed settings like hotels, a practice recently banned after the tragic death of 16-year-old Kanaiyah Ward in a Baltimore City hotel. Advocates emphasize the need for immediate action beyond data collection, demanding background checks for individuals working with foster children and improved oversight of one-to-one vendors. Lawmakers questioned the timing of DHS's new hotel placement ban and the exclusion of hospital placements from this directive, with Lopez indicating plans to limit hospital placements within a year. Despite DHS pledges to address these systemic failures with urgency, advocates and legislators remain skeptical and call for more transparency and reforms, including legislation like Kanaiya's Law to strengthen protections for foster children. The ongoing hearings and public pressure highlight the critical need for comprehensive changes to ensure the safety and well-being of Maryland’s foster care children.