In a significant policy shift, the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) has put an end to its practice of housing foster care children in hotels, a move prompted by the tragic death of a 16-year-old in its custody. The teen, Kanaiyah Ward, died by suicide at a Baltimore hotel, which led to state leaders scrutinizing the department’s housing policies. A memo released by DHS directs local social services branches to seek placement appropriate to their needs for any minors in hotels by November 24, ending hotel accommodations as a temporary housing solution for the state’s foster youth.
This mandate comes after a marked reduction in the number of foster children placed in hotels—from 41 at the end of January 2023 to just six as of yesterday. DHS committed, saying, “We will not rest until every child in our state is safe, thriving in a permanent home, and surrounded by a loving family,” as reported by CBS News. Furthermore, DHS has announced a contract with four residential child care providers to expand services for specific needs, alongside a Request for Proposals for statewide one-on-one support services.
Amidst this change, harsh scrutiny has fallen on past DHS practices. In an inquiry into the department’s procedures, a recent audit exposed that nearly 300 children were placed in hotels without adequate protocols for unlicensed settings. This included disturbing revelations, like foster care children living at the same address as registered sex offenders. The agency responded that once guardianship placements have occurred, they hold no legal authority to continue conducting background checks, according to a Fox Baltimore report…