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Program Description

  Child Welfare Services

Child Welfare Services is a continuum of services designed to ensure that children are safe and that families have the support they need to care for their children successfully. The system is guided by three main principles of safety, permanency, and well-being. This program provides protective and supportive services for children who are maltreated and their families. Services include: screening, assessment and investigation of allegations of child abuse and neglect; in-home/family preservation services to families with children who are at risk of removal from the home due to abuse/neglect; and foster/kinship care for children/youth when they cannot safely remain in the home. The focus is on reunification services or finding alternative, permanent living arrangements (custody/guardianship or adoption) when children are removed from the home. Case management and support services are offered to older youth who age out of foster care. Supportive and monitoring services, along with financial stipends, are offered to licensed foster parents. These services are provided by the County on behalf of the State of Maryland Department of Human Services.

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Program Contacts

Contact Oscar Mensah Ph.D. of the HHS - Social Services at 240-777-3850 or Deborah Lambert of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-777-2794 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

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Program Performance Measures

Program Performance MeasuresActual FY24Actual FY25Estimated FY26Target FY27Target FY28
Number of children served in foster care 1444439473458453
Number of families receiving in-home services 2240200244236230
Number of newly accepted cases (IR, AR, and non-CPS) 32,4572,4182,5062,5592,524
Percent of children placed in family settings 475%74%76%76%76%
Percent of children receiving in-home services that do not have a child protective service investigation with an abuse or neglect finding within one year after receiving services 596%83%93%93%91%
1  Numbers reflect total number of children served in foster care during the fiscal year. The decrease in children served in foster care is attributed to enhanced efforts to involve relatives and kin throughout the life of the case which shortens involvement with child welfare. Projections are based on a five-year historical average.
2  Numbers reflect the total number of families receiving in-home family preservation services during the fiscal year. The 17% decrease in the number of families receiving services from FY24 to FY25 can be attributed to fewer cases being referred by Child Protective Services due to their greater clinical complexity and needs. Additionally, as Family Preservation Services are voluntary, a family may deny or refuse services despite the encouragement of Child Welfare Services. Projections are based on a five-year historical average.
3  The data reflect the total number of newly accepted investigation (IR), alternative response (AR), and non-Child Protective Services (non-CPS) cases during the fiscal year. Projections are based on a five-year historical average.
4  The percentage reflects the annual average of children placed in a family-based setting at the end of each month while in out-of-home care. Family-based settings include: regular foster, kinship, private treatment foster care, pre-adoptive homes, and trial home visits. The slight decrease from FY24 to FY25 can be attributed to an increase in the number of children and youth achieving permanency through reunification, adoption, or custody and guardianship, all exit types which require children to be placed in family-based settings prior to exiting out-of-home care. Projections based on a five-year historical average.
5  This metric reflects how many children had a positive outcome after their engagement with Family Preservation Services (i.e., the children did not have a case that found probable maltreatment within 12 months of ending service). This metric dropped between FY24 and FY25 because the number of children whose case found probable maltreatment increased from 7 in FY24 to 32 in FY25. Each child in a family is counted individually, so cases with families with above-average numbers of children may skew this metric. Projections based on a five-year historical average.
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Program Budget Changes

FY27 Recommended ChangesExpendituresFTEs
FY26 Approved00.00
Eliminate: Crisis Stabilization Services for Child Welfare Services Due to Expiration of Contract-563590.00
Eliminate: Youth Mentoring Services Non-Competitive Contract and Transition Participants to Another Community Provider if Appropriate and Available-1414690.00
Multi-program adjustments, including negotiated compensation changes, employee benefit changes, changes due to staff turnover, reorganizations, and other budget changes affecting multiple programs.36318202209.94
FY27 Recommended36120374209.94