Place Matters Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home 11/30/2018

Why Does Place Matter? 11/30/2018

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) SAFETY (Remain safe from abuse & neglect) PERMANENCY (reunification, placement with relatives, adoption, APPLA) WELL-BEING (placement stability, health services and educational services) 11/30/2018

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 61% in family foster care 20% in group homes Average length of stay: 3.5 - 4 years *July 2007 Statistics 11/30/2018 Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home 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 11/30/2018 Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home 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 11/30/2018 Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

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 11/30/2018 Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

Place Matters Strategy Place Matters Action Team Data Research and Analysis StateStat 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 11/30/2018 Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

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 Family Centered/Community Based/Child Focused Placement Protocols Level of Care Assessment Placement Decision Making Criteria 11/30/2018

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 11/30/2018