ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A new state audit revealed Maryland’s Social Services Administration has repeatedly failed to meet critical child welfare and financial standards, including allowing children to live in homes linked to registered sex offenders, placing foster youth in hotels under unlicensed supervision, and leaving millions in taxpayer funds unrecovered.
The 70-page audit, released this month by the Office of Legislative Audits, covered the period from May 2020 to May 2024. It found that six of eight prior deficiencies remained unresolved, with some issues dating back to 2008.
Among the most serious findings, auditors reported that SSA lacked procedures to prevent individuals with disqualifying criminal backgrounds from interacting with children. Investigators identified seven registered sex offenders associated with guardianship homes where 10 children were living as of August 2024. One foster care group home employee, previously convicted of sexually assaulting a minor, transported foster children for inappropriate activity and was later charged with new crimes. Another vendor providing one-on-one hotel supervision employed an individual convicted of murder in 1990.
Auditors also found widespread lapses in health and safety requirements. More than 1,600 foster children had not received required dental exams, with some going nearly seven years without care. At least 640 children had not received a medical exam within the past year. In total, 280 children were housed in hotels under unlicensed supervision for extended periods, including 82 who spent between three months and two years in hotels.
The failures also carried a steep financial toll. The state incurred $698,296 in federal penalties, failed to pursue $34.5 million in provider overpayments, lost up to $23 million in potential federal reimbursements, and did not claim at least $2.6 million in eligible federal funds.
In addition, auditors found that SSA did not report thousands of overdue child abuse and neglect investigations to the General Assembly as required by state law. In fiscal 2024 alone, 2,719 investigations were not completed on time, including 1,762 in a single jurisdiction.
This marks the third consecutive time the agency’s oversight has been labeled “unsatisfactory,” a rating system established in state law. The audit office said it will notify the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee of the General Assembly regarding unresolved issues.
House Republicans called the findings “disgusting and infuriating,” with Assistant Minority Leader April Rose saying the failures represented “a complete breakdown of the state’s most basic responsibility.” Chief Deputy Minority Whip Wayne Hartman added that the revelations showed “complete negligence” in protecting vulnerable children.
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Beyond useless
JFC! people wonder why everyone seems to be losing their minds lately