Foster to Adopt Maryland: Navigating the Path

Becoming a foster parent is a powerful and life-changing experience, especially when you offer a child the chance at a stable, loving family.  

In Maryland, many families take the foster-to-adopt path, which allows them to provide temporary care for children with the potential to adopt if reunification with the child's biological family isn’t possible.This journey is transformative for the child and the family, as it creates deep emotional bonds that can last a lifetime. 

It’s as Maryland foster parent Bill Ewolt beautifully puts it:

"I want you to understand that my commitment to you goes beyond words. I am here to support you, to listen to you, and to fight for you every step of the way."

Choosing to foster to adopt in Maryland may come with challenges. However, it’s a path filled with hope, resilience, and the opportunity to give a child the safety and love they deserve. 

All About Foster Care in Maryland 

Foster care in Maryland provides children in need with temporary, safe, and nurturing homes while their biological families work to improve their circumstances. 

When you want to foster with the goal of adopting, it’s important to remember the primary goal of foster care is reunification. However, when this isn’t possible, adoption becomes a path to providing children with a permanent and loving family.

In Maryland, there are over 3,600 children in foster care. The state strongly focuses on ensuring that every child in care receives the emotional, developmental, and educational support they need to thrive.

Maryland also offers robust support for foster families, including financial assistance, healthcare for the child, and access to post-adoption services. In addition, the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) provides trauma-informed preservice sessions to foster parents, ensuring they are prepared to care for children who may have experienced difficult situations.

By fostering to adopt in Maryland, families offer children a safe and stable environment. They also play a critical role in helping them heal and build a brighter future!

What are the Benefits of Fostering to Adopt in Maryland?

Fostering to adopt in Maryland helps families provide a safe and loving environment for children in need. It also offers the possibility of growing your family. 

Here are some reasons why fostering to adopt in Maryland is a great option:

It’s a Chance to Start (or Grow) Your Family

For families looking to grow, fostering to adopt provides a meaningful way to create a forever family. 

Maryland foster care ensures that families receive support every step of the way. From the initial stages of fostering to the adoption process — you’re never alone!

While the primary goal of foster care is reunification with the child’s biological family, there are situations where adoption becomes the next step. When this happens, Maryland allows foster families to adopt children with whom they've built strong connections.

Helping Local Children in Care in Maryland

Adoption provides more than just starting a family, though. By choosing to foster to adopt, you are helping children in Maryland who need stable, nurturing homes!

The state has both urban and rural communities with children waiting for the security of a permanent family. Many children in Maryland’s foster care system have experienced trauma or instability, and by opening your home, you’re providing them with the love and care they need to heal and grow.

It’s More Affordable 

Adopting through foster care in Maryland is often more affordable than other adoption options. Traditional adoptions in the state can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000.

Many of the costs that can make adoption challenging, such as legal fees, home studies, and training, are either covered by the state or come at a reduced cost when fostering. You can better understand the specific costs by contacting a local organization dedicated to adoption through foster care.

How Do I Adopt a Child From Foster Care in Maryland?

The process of fostering to adopt in Maryland involves several important steps to ensure that children are placed in loving, stable homes. There are two typical routes you can take:

• Fostering to adopt: You can foster a child with the primary goal of reuniting them with their biological family. If reunification isn’t possible, the child becomes eligible for adoption, and you can become their forever family.
• Adopting directly from foster care: In this case, you’re matched with a child legally eligible for adoption and ready to join a permanent family.

Both paths allow you to provide a nurturing home while allowing a child to grow up in a supportive environment.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for Fostering to Adopt in Maryland?

Before beginning the foster-to-adopt process, you must meet Maryland’s requirements to become a licensed foster parent. 

The goal is to ensure that families are equipped to care for children who may have experienced trauma or instability. The basic requirements include:

• You need to be at least 21 years old: There is no maximum age, but if you are over 60, the local department will observe and document whether your health and strength are enough to meet the needs of a child in care.
• You can be single or married: All orientations are welcome, as are all religions. 
• Having a stable source of independent income: You don’t need to be wealthy, but you will need a reliable income source that is enough to support a child in care.
• You can rent, lease, or own a home: Any of these options are fine as long as the home meets safety standards set by the state of Maryland.
• Passing a criminal record check: This is to protect children in care from danger and additional abuse.
• Passing an initial medical exam: This does not exclude individuals living with disabilities from being foster parents.  The goal is to ensure you can care for and support a child while they are with you.
• Providing three character references: Similar to the background check, this is to protect a child in care and give them the best possible home environment.
• Commiting to a no physical discipline policy: Children in care are often living with and recovering from trauma. Physical discipline can set their progress back and create even more fear, and, as a result, is not allowed.

If you want more information on fostering, you can contact one of Mentor Foster Care’s locations in Maryland:

• Baltimore
• Frederick
• Gaithersburg
• Hagerstown
• La Plata
• Lanham

Completing Preservice Sessions

After meeting the initial requirements, all prospective foster parents in Maryland must complete preservice sessions. 

These sessions prepare families for the unique challenges and rewards of fostering children. 

This program covers essential topics, including:

• Understanding trauma and its impact on children in care.
• Supporting the emotional, developmental, and behavioral needs of children.
• Working with birth families when reunification is the goal.
• Navigating the legal aspects of foster care and adoption.

These sessions, which take approximately 27 total hours, ensure that foster parents are fully equipped to meet the needs of the children in their care. If you plan to care for a child with therapeutic needs, you’ll have to complete 28 hours of sessions. 

Undergoing a Home Study

Once you’ve completed the preservice training, the next step is the home study. This process is a comprehensive evaluation to ensure that your home is a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for a child. 

In Maryland, the home study includes the following components:

• Interviews: A social worker will conduct in-depth interviews with you and other household members to learn about your family’s dynamics, lifestyle, and motivation for fostering to adopt.
• Home Visits: A social worker will visit your home to ensure it meets safety requirements and has enough space for a child. The home should be clean, well-maintained, and equipped to provide a comfortable environment.
• Background and Reference Checks: The home study also involves background checks for all adults in the household, including criminal history and child abuse clearances. 
• Reporting: After the interviews, home visits, and background checks are completed, the social worker will compile a detailed report. This report includes information on your financial stability, family background, home environment, and overall readiness to foster or adopt.

Though the home study can feel extensive, it is essential to ensure children in Maryland’s foster care system are placed in homes where they will thrive. 

Matching With a Child in Need

The matching process begins once you've completed the home study and are approved to foster or adopt. 

This stage can be one of the most exciting parts of the journey, as it marks the start of building a meaningful connection with a child. 

Time Spent to Make a Match

The time it takes to be matched with a child can vary depending on their age, needs, and your family’s preferences. 

Some families may be matched with a child within a few months, while others may need to wait longer. It's important to remain patient and remember that the goal is to find the best match for both the child and your family. 

Finding a Match

When a potential match is identified, you will receive detailed information about the child, including their background, medical history, and any specific needs they may have. 

This information allows you to decide whether the child may be a good fit for your family. The matching process is collaborative, and you’ll work closely with social workers to ensure you and the child are comfortable moving forward.

The First Meeting

Once a match has been made, the social worker will schedule the first meeting between you and the child. 

This is a crucial moment for you and the child, as it marks the beginning of your relationship. The first meeting is often informal and designed to help the child feel comfortable and reduce their anxiety. 

During this time, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know each other in a relaxed environment, setting the tone for future visits.

After the initial meeting, you may have several more visits with the child, allowing your relationship to develop naturally. These visits are essential for building trust and ensuring that you and the child feel ready to proceed with the placement.

Placement

If the visits go well and everyone feels comfortable, it’s time for the placement! 

At this point, you become the child's foster parent, and the child begins living with you.

The placement can be temporary, with the goal of reunification with the child’s biological family, or it may become permanent if adoption becomes an option. 

Regardless of the outcome, this marks a significant milestone in your foster or adoptive parent journey.

Wondering What It’s Like to be a Foster or Adoptive Parent?

Get a sneak peek into the world of fostering through Letters Written with Love. This is a digital scrapbook of letters from foster parents to the children in their care.

Access your free copy now and experience the love, hope, and joy expressed by foster and adoptive parents who have been there.