❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new audit revealed Maryland’s foster care system failed to perform background checks, resulting in children being placed in homes with sex offenders and a convicted murderer being hired for child care in hotels.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Maryland’s Department of Human Services, Social Services Administration, Governor Wes Moore (D), Delegate Kathy Szeliga (R), and auditors from the Maryland General Assembly’s Department of Legislative Services.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Issues spanned several years, with the 2025 audit highlighting incidents through 2023 and 2024 in Maryland.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The audit of Maryland’s Social Services is absolutely abhorrent and reads like criminal negligence,” said Delegate Kathy Szeliga.
🎯IMPACT: The audit uncovered systemic failures, including unvetted foster homes, misuse of funds, and noncompliance with federal standards, risking children’s safety and costing Maryland millions in penalties.
An audit of Maryland‘s foster care programs has found the system failed to perform adequate background checks, resulting in at least 10 children being placed to live in homes with registered sex offenders. The review also found that foster children were placed with a convicted murderer who was paid to provide “one-on-one” care for the children in hotels.
The audit, conducted by the Democrat-run Maryland General Assembly’s Department of Legislative Services, found systemic problems in the foster care system, with an estimated 38 percent of children placed in foster homes failing to attend school despite state records showing otherwise.
In one instance, uncovered by investigators, state officials claimed to have reviewed a group foster home in 2023, but did not take note of an employee convicted of sexual assault on a minor in 2014. Three months later, the individual allegedly transported foster children for inappropriate activity and was subsequently charged with crimes involving children under his care. The Maryland Department of Human Services’ Social Services Administration (SSA) failed to document any corrective action following the incident.
Maryland Delegate Kathy Szeliga (R) condemned the findings, stating, “The audit of Maryland’s Social Services is absolutely abhorrent and reads like criminal negligence. The 72-page report reveals shocking recklessness in the care of foster children.” She called for immediate accountability, saying, “Governor Wes Moore must immediately fire someone. The buck stops with [Maryland Department of Human Services Secretary Rafael Lopez] or the Executive Director of the Social Services Administration, Dr. Alger Studstill, Jr.”
Auditors revealed that county agencies often failed to perform background checks, and the SSA rubber-stamped their paperwork without verification. One contractor providing one-on-one services employed a convicted murderer, and hundreds of children were placed in unlicensed hotel settings at exorbitant daily costs. Additionally, the SSA failed to recover $34.5 million in overpayments to foster care providers and did not ensure that children received required medical and dental exams.
The audit also highlighted the agency’s failure to comply with federal standards, resulting in a $700,000 fine in 2024. Many of these issues had been identified previously, but promised reforms were not implemented. In response, the SSA acknowledged regulatory shortcomings and claimed to have taken action in cases involving children living with sex offenders.
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