Helpful Information

Here is a list of questions you should ask when called for a new placement.  Before accepting a child into your home, you want to make sure you have as much information about the child as possible in order to make an informed decision about whether or not they will be a good fit.  Remember, BCDSS does not always have the answers to the questions below and the answers they have may be inaccurate, but they should be able to provide you with some information.  

This document does not replace or supersede the “What to Expect” document from DSS. The below advice was assembled by 4 resource parents who went through the approval process in Baltimore City within the past two years. It represents a variety of experiences and is meant to give you some parameters to guide your expectations. It cannot account for all possible scenarios. Please reach out to the Baltimore City Resource Parents Association at BaltimoreCityRPA@gmail.com, if you have any questions during the process.

First, the TBRI empowering principles address the ecological (external/environmental) and physiological (internal/physical) needs of the child. By ensuring these basic needs are met, the effectiveness of the connecting and correcting principles are greatly improved. Second, the connecting principles address relational and attachment needs, focusing on awareness, engagement, and attunement. Third, the correcting principles teach self-regulation and appropriate boundaries, and promote healthy behaviors for caregiver and child (see Appendix for examples of typical activities for each of the principles).

Maryland Family Network is a free and confidential referral service that will help you find the best childcare for your family. The program is affiliated with all of Maryland’s regulated childcare providers. Our referral options include:

Find the Associations current By-Laws here.  

Helpful tax resources for Resource Parents provided by Foster Ombuds - Becky Rice

Direct Deposit tip sheet for Resource Parents provided by Foster Ombuds - Becky Rice.  Form can be found here: ACH/Direct Deposit Authorization for Vendor Payments (marylandtaxes.gov

A summary of Resource Parents Rights in Maryland.

Revised guidance on Out-of-State travel for youth in care.  Travel letter no longer required in most cases.  

Reconsideration documents including Training, CPR & First Aid Training, Financial Stability Verification, Pets, Background Clearances, Medical, Resource Provider Agreement, Home Health Assessment, and Back-Up Provider.  It is imperative that reconsiderations are completed on time as BCDSS cannot allow homes to remain open that are out of compliance. If the reconsideration standards are not completed by the annual recon due date, you run the risk of having your home closed.  Resource homes that are out of compliance because all recon standards have not been met on time will be put on hold.  Homes that are 60 days out of compliance will be closed. 

DHS policy and combined submission paperwork for daycare reimbursement.