Carroll County proclaims May as National Foster Care Month; social services reports 43 youth served in FY24

Carroll County commissioners on May 1 proclaimed May as National Foster Care Month and heard a presentation from the county Department of Social Services about the local out-of-home services that support children and families.

County staff said the out-of-home unit provided services to 43 youth during fiscal year 2024 and that 30 children were in out-of-home placement at the time of the meeting. The unit reported 25 youth achieved permanency during the fiscal year — including 12 reunifications with parents, six case closures to custody or guardianship (to relatives or resource parents), five adoptions and two youth who exited care at age 21.

Staff described a growing focus on families affected by substance use through collaboration with the county’s sobriety treatment and recovery team, and expansion of peer mentoring supports. Presenters said the program now serves children 0 to 18 in the start team model and highlighted a December family-to-family holiday event that brought together youth in care, birth families and resource families to encourage continued relationships.

Commissioners thanked staff for the work and asked about program processes such as kinship licensing and ongoing contact with resource families. County staff said kinship caregivers now receive a streamlined licensing process and full licensing rights under a Maryland law change at the end of 2024; case management includes at least monthly contact with youth and regular support from resource-home licensing staff.

The proclamation and presentation emphasized prevention, family reunification and partnerships with community providers.

No formal vote beyond adoption of the proclamation was required.