ANNAPOLIS, Md. – House Republicans today issued a statement in response to the Department of Human Services announcement that they will stop placing foster children in hotels. This announcement comes days before the legislative hearing on the horrendous September Audit that found DHS was keeping foster children in hotels up to two years.
These foster children typically needed medical or mental health foster services. Just days after that audit was released in September, 16-year-old Kanaiyah Ward was found dead in the Baltimore City hotel she had been placed in by the foster care system. Her death was ruled a suicide.
“Putting children in need, who require special attention or care and need love, support, and guidance in hotel rooms with minimal, if any, consistent adult supervision is an absurd policy,” said House Minority Leader Jason Buckel.
“It is blatantly wrong, and thankfully, DHS has finally reached this conclusion. It is unfortunately too late for children and families that have already suffered because of prior failures in our foster care system. Such a policy must never be allowed to be implemented again. Maryland’s foster children deserve better.”
“I am glad that DHS is ending this practice, but it still leaves many questions,” said Delegate Mike Griffith, who spent years in Maryland’s foster system as a child and is the sponsor of Kanaiyah’s Law, which, among other things, will prohibit the placement of children in hotels.
“Where will these children be housed? As many of them are children like Kanaiyah who need mental health or medical services, will they be placed with treatment foster care providers? Or, as we already know happens, will they be placed in more dire environments like homeless shelters? Given this agency’s track record, it is important that we continue to push for the passage of Kanaiyah’s Law so we can be assured that these placements and practices are forever banned.”
If they did not treat foster parents like they were the criminal they may have more
Fostering in Florida is WAAAY different than TN
We were FP in FL and loved it we moved to TN and what a nightmare so we decided we would not be able to be FP anymore
We even purchased our home in TN remodel it to fit the needs of the peanuts to get treated like we were criminals
You and Your Partner may not be criminals, but they’re are many many FP’s out there that are absolutely evil!! Some FP’s are so selfish, and could care less about the children they foster. I’ve seen so many cases of it, it is truly heartbreaking. I know there are some really wonderful Foster Parent’s out there, as well! I’ve seen some wonderful, caring, loving couples, that given their all for the children they foster. But, many FP’s are treated as if they are criminals, and that isn’t correct, either. But, I believe that law enforcement and CPS have seen so many bad foster parent situations, they become jaded, until they know better.
Where do they think these kids should go? Open a dialog
I can tell you that some of the fosters I was in was treated very badly by the fosters parents and there children. I had one child tell me I over heard my mom and dad say if it was for the checks she wouldn’t be here. I didn’t understand but when I got older I did very much so. There was a few that was worse than others. And I did have two that was wonderful. One episode himself to me. One of the happiest was my teacher. I love d her. So all fosters homes aren’t happy places belive me. And children don’t know what to say when the Social worker comes out and ask questions. They are scared.