Maryland Officials and Legislators Hold First Child Welfare Summit

On Tuesday in Annapolis, state officials and legislators gathered for the first-ever Child Welfare Legislative Summit, hosted by the Maryland Department of Human Services alongside House Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk and Casey Family Programs.

The convening brought practitioners and advocates together to review reforms enacted since 2023. Discussions focused on eliminating pediatric hospital overstays, enforcing state prohibitions against placements in unlicensed settings, and expanding placement capacities.

“Ensuring our young people are loved and protected is not a left versus right issue. It is a matter of common humanity,” said Maryland House Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk.

State data indicate that 50 percent of children under age 10 in out-of-home care were living with kin as of July 2026. That figure marks an increase from 34.5 percent in July 2024.

The state attributes the shift toward family placements to the 2024 Kinship Care Law and the Moore-Miller administration’s Family Matters initiative. Total youth living with relatives increased by more than 440 individuals compared to the period before the 2024 legislation took effect.

By removing administrative hurdles for relatives seeking licensure, the Maryland Department of Human Services reported that the percentage of licensed kinship caregivers climbed from 25 percent in December 2024 to 88 percent by September 2026. The department invested an additional $5 million to support these caregivers.

“As a former kinship caregiver myself, this work is personal to me,” said Acting Secretary of Human Services Stacy L. Rodgers. “And our team will not rest until every child in Maryland is safe, thriving in a permanent home, and surrounded by a loving family.”

State agencies also reported progress in reducing out-of-home placement bottlenecks. Following the passage of measures such as Kanaiyah’s Law and House Bill 1559, the department completely ended the placement of foster youth in hotels by November 2025.

Concurrently, pediatric hospital stays exceeding medical necessity dropped by up to 65 percent over the preceding year. Officials established the Advisory Council on Maryland’s System of Care for Children, Youth, and Families to address ongoing systemic barriers affecting medical and behavioral health services.

“Working in partnership, we are improving outcomes for young people and families in out-of-home care,” said Delegate Heather Bagnell, District 33C, Chair, House Health and Government Operations Committee.

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