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Auditors say Maryland's foster-care oversight failed; lawmakers consider centralizing background checks
Summary
Legislative auditors told a Feb. 12 briefing that Maryland's Social Services Administration lacked effective oversight, failed to ensure routine criminal-background follow-ups and data accuracy, and incurred millions in hotel and vendor costs; DLS and OLA proposed legislation to centralize checks and create an audit-compliance unit.
Legislative auditors and evaluators told a joint Judiciary and Appropriations subcommittee briefing on Feb. 12 that the Social Services Administration's (SSA) oversight of local departments of social services was deficient and that those gaps harmed foster children.
"SSA had not established a comprehensive and effective quality assurance program to ensure the LDSSs properly administered these programs," Eddie Rubinstein, director responsible for the OLA foster-care audit, told the committee while summarizing the audit. Rubinstein highlighted multiple findings including missing routine criminal-background follow-ups, inaccurate case-management data and incomplete medical and dental exams for many children.
Why it matters: OLA identified 280 instances in fiscal years 2023—and—24 when foster-care children spent time in…
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