Maryland
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Pre-Service Training

Prospective resource and adoptive parents are currently trained using the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC). Maryland previously utilized Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education (PRIDE) pre-service training and transitioned to NTDC in early 2025.  

Families in Maryland are dually licensed to foster and adopt so there is no additional training required for families who are identified as resources for adoption or guardianship.  

 Kinship caregivers in Maryland are required to be licensed to care for kin child(ren) in out-of-home care, but training is not a part of the licensing requirements. While training is not a requirement it can be offered and encouraged based on the needs of the identified kinship caregiver and kin child.     

Services Offered Through the State’s Post-Permanency Support Program

Post-permanency services in Maryland are administered by the Department of Human Services, Social Services Administration through 24 local offices. Post-permanency services are also administered through contracts with Paths for Families and the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.). Both agencies’ contracts fund them to serve the entire state. To access services provided by Paths for Families or C.A.S.E., families can contact the private agency directly or be referred by the Local Department of Social Services (LDSS).  

Services include:

Through their state contracts, Paths for Families and C.A.S.E. can serve families only after finalization of adoption or guardianship. However, the Local Department of Social Services can contract with C.A.S.E. and Paths for Families to provide the services to specific families before finalization. 

After an adoptive or guardianship family receiving a subsidy requests available support services, the LDSS will conduct a clinical assessment of the child’s and family’s needs. If the assessment determines support services are needed, the LDSS will develop a service plan with the family that includes identified treatment goals, suggested treatments, and recommended services. For the families they serve, C.A.S.E. and Paths for Families conduct a thorough assessment process of the entire family that guides treatment planning.  

Both C.A.S.E and Paths for Families provide families with case management services in conjunction with counseling. LDSS staff can provide some in-home case management services as well. 

Paths for Families offers free post-adoption counseling for families. The counseling is adoption-competent and trauma-informed for individuals, families, and parents. Services can be in-home or in-office in select locations but are primarily virtual as requested by families. Specific models of counseling used are Attachment Focused Therapy, Adoption and Permanency Competent Therapy, Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Strength Based Therapy, Trust Based Relational Intervention, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).  

 C.A.S.E. offers free individual and family psychotherapy for eligible Maryland residents outlined in state contract. Therapists are trained under the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program and NTI. C.A.S.E. treatments include Theraplay®, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Therapy is provided both in-office and through teletherapy.  

Situations that might result in risk for entry into foster care are considered crises. Maryland Administrative Code states that LDSS shall provide crisis intervention services upon approval and release of funds. LDSS can open a case for in-home services and provide support directly to the family or refer for services through Paths for Families or C.A.S.E. LDSS can also refer families to the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration’s mobile crisis units, which serve all types of families. 

 

Paths for Families provides the following virtual support groups for adoptive and guardianship families: (1) weekly parent support group; (2) separate interracial adoption groups for parents and children; and (3) a parent book club to discuss adoption-related books with the guidance of parent mentors or adoption-competent clinicians. Groups are run by professionals with some support from persons with lived experience. 

C.A.S.E. offers monthly virtual parent support groups, teen groups, and specialized population groups for families and their children throughout the year. Groups are led by trained peer leaders with lived experience and trained therapists. During these groups, adoptive families or youth share experiences, concerns, insights and resources with their peers. Psychoeducation is also provided during support groups as needed.

LDSS, C.A.S.E., and Paths for Families offer support for educational issues as part of their case management services.

Maryland LDSS staff provide information and referrals to available community resources and services. 

C.A.S.E. offers families free access to monthly live or recorded webinars on adoption-related topics. Paths for Families also offers virtual training opportunities. 

 C.A.S.E hosts an annual day-long Kan Carnival that is free of charge and open to all families who adopted from the child welfare system in Maryland. Paths For Families provides an annual Fall Family Day for engagement and connection.  

LDSS has additional funds for requests that are special to a child or family’s needs. LDSS can provide referrals and pay for medical assessments and treatment, and reimbursement for respite services upon approval of funds.  

The post-permanency program serviced 145 families through services in fiscal year 2024.  

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Geographic Area Covered

Post-permanency services in Maryland are offered statewide through LDSS located in all 23 counties and Baltimore City. C.A.S.E. and Paths for Families also offer services statewide. Availability of services may vary by region. 

Eligible Population for the Overall Post-Permanency Program

  • All families who adopted from the state’s foster care system

  • All families who adopted from foster care in other states, territories, or tribes 

  • All families who adopted through intercountry adoption

  • All families who adopted through private adoption

  • All families who have guardianship of a child from foster care 

  • All families who have guardianship of child not through foster care 

Variations in Eligibility for the Post-Permanency Program

None

Outreach and Engagement

LDSS attend meetings with partner agencies, Paths for Families, and C.A.S.E. throughout the year to provide education on post-permanency services, training, and activities. These meetings include meetings of local coordinating councils, which fund specialty supports for children and families, and the Maryland Association of Social Services Directors (MASSD). LDSS uses the annual renewal of the subsidy letter as an opportunity to share information about resources with families.  

Paths for Families uses fliers and email blasts to advertise services and upcoming events to families engaged with their program. 

 C.A.S.E has an extensive outreach process where they engage all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. Outreach includes community engagement activities, school outreach, and e-newsletters. All C.A.S.E. families have ongoing contact through mailings and e-newsletters.  

 

How the Post-Permanency Program Is Operated

  • Through contracts or grants with multiple private agencies offering different services

  • By other state staff

  • By other county staff

Notes About Who Provides Which Service(s)

Maryland LDSS provides funding and referral for short-term counseling, medical treatment, mental health services, crisis intervention services, and information and referral. LDSS and state and county staff support families through in-home case management services. 

 Paths for Families and C.A.S.E. both offer counseling, case management, support groups, training, and events.  

Adoption/Guardianship Assistance/Subsidy Review and Changes

Eligibility for adoption assistance agreements is subject to an annual review by the Maryland LDSS. The LDSS will send a redetermination packet to the adoptive family at least 90 days before the annual renewal due date. At least 60 days before the annual renewal due date, an adoptive family should submit documentation to the local department to enable the department to confirm the child’s continued eligibility for adoption assistance.  

Eligibility for guardianship assistance agreements is also subject to an annual review by Maryland LDSS. The LDSS will provide written notice to the relative guardians 60 days before the due date of the required annual reconsideration. 

Adoptive parents may request a change in the adoption assistance agreement if there is a change in the child’s needs or the family’s circumstances. Parents can request a change whenever there is a need by contacting LDSS in person, by phone, or in writing. The agency will advise and assist the family in collecting documentation necessary to support the request. LDSS will determine eligibility for the requested change. (Families can also access case management services at this time if needed.)  Any adjustment must be approved by the Maryland Social Services Administration.
 

Relative guardians may request a change in the guardianship assistance if there is a change in the child’s needs or the family’s circumstances. Any adjustment must be approved by the Maryland Social Services Administration.
 

Tracking Adoption/Guardianship Discontinuity

LDSS tracks subsidies monthly and in that process is informed about each child returned to care or entering into residential care using the Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA), which funds specialty care. The state uses the Child, Juvenile, and Adult Management System (CJAMS) to track placements. Adoption and guardianship history is entered into the system at time of placement, allowing the state to capture this data. This includes whether it is an adoption from child welfare or an intercountry adoption. 

Post-Permanency Program Spending (FY 2023)

  • $500,000 – $999,999

    Note: The above spending was for the contracted services and does not include services provided by LDSS. 

Funding Sources for the Post-Permanency Program (FY 2023)

  1. Adoption savings (reported on CB 496 Part 4 – Annual Adoption Savings Report) 
  2. Title IV-B, Part 1 (Child Welfare Services/CWS) 
  3. State child welfare funds 
  4. Title IV-B, Part 2 (Promoting Safe and Stable Families/PSSF) 
  5. Adoption/Guardianship Incentive Program Payments (AIPP) 

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