Place Matters Nothing Matters More to a Child

Place Matters Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home 12/31/2021

Why Does Place Matter? 12/31/2021

Children in Foster Care Need: SAFETY (Remain safe from abuse & neglect) PERMANENCY (reunification, custody/ guardianship to relatives, adoption, APPLA) WELL-BEING (placement stability, health services and educational services) 12/31/2021

Maryland’s Placement Statistics • 10, 164 children in out-of-home care • 60 % of caseload in Baltimore City • 40% of caseload in 23 other counties Ø 61% in family foster care Ø 20% in group homes ØAverage length of stay: 3. 5 - 4 years *July 2007 Statistics 12/31/2021 Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home 4

Barriers to Success • • • Lack of family foster homes Over reliance on group care Jurisdiction of origin vs. Jurisdiction of placement Gaps in the placement continuum statewide Insufficient mental health, educational and community supports for foster children and their families 12/31/2021 Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home 5

Goals • • • Keep children in their communities Place children in families first Reduce reliance on out of home care Minimize the length of stay Manage with data and redirect resources 12/31/2021 Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home 6

Place Matters Framework • • Family-Centered Practice Alternative Response Integrated In-Home/Family Preservation Services Targeted Child Well-Being Practices Foster/Adoptive Family Recruitment and Retention Kinship Care Placement and Community Resource Development Focused Permanency Policy and Practice 12/31/2021 Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home 7

Place Matters Strategy Place Matters Action Team • Data Research and Analysis – – – – State. Stat Case Reviews: Permanency, Levels of Care, Proximity Casey Strategic Consulting Assessment GOC Resource Development Plan MD Foster Parent Association Foster Care Provider Council Group Home Census Treatment Foster Home Inventory 12/31/2021 Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home 8

Major Initiatives in 2007 • 1000 by 2010: Foster Parent Recruitment/Retention • Family Centered Practice • Service Array/Resource Development • Provider Accountability • • Focus on Permanency & Wellbeing • Contract Monitoring/Quality of Care • Geographic Proximity Practice Improvement 12/31/2021 • Family Centered/Community Based/Child Focused • Placement Protocols • Level of Care Assessment • Placement Decision Making Criteria

Place Matters Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home Cathy F. Mols, LCSW-C Executive Director, Social Services Administration Maryland Department of Human Resources cmols@dhr. state. md. us 410 -767 -7216 12/31/2021