Maryland post-adoption support

Below are post-adoption support services available to families who live in Maryland. Services may not be available in all areas and/or may be dependent upon the circumstances of the placement. Please check with your post-adoption services provider about the availability of specific post-adoption or guardianship support services for your family. You can also visit Child Welfare Information Gateway for information on Adoption and Guardianship Assistance, as well as additional information on post-adoption support.

On this page:

Post-adoption/guardianship support services

In Maryland, adoptive families have access to the following services through a post-adoption support program:

  • Information (websites, fact sheets, articles, etc.) 
  • Referral to services
  • Training/other development
  • Birth family mediation and/or adoption search
  • Educational support
  • Respite 
  • Camps, retreats, events
  • Financial/material support
  • Community-based therapeutic services

Who is eligible for these services?

  • Families who have adopted from the state’s foster care system
  • Families have adopted from foster care in other jurisdictions
  • Families who adopted internationally or privately
  • Families who have guardianship of a child from the state’s foster care system and are receiving a guardianship subsidy

Who provides these services?

Post-permanency services are provided by the Maryland Department of Human Services. Contact your local DHS office to inquire and learn more about the post-adoption services available in your area. Availability of services may vary by region. 

The Maryland Resource Parent Association also provides some services throughout the state, including a lending library. 

Parent support groups

Below are support groups for adoptive, kinship, and foster families. Support groups may be offered as part of a state’s post-adoption/guardianship support program, through a statewide or regional foster or adoptive parent association, through specific agencies, or may be run independently. If we have additional information about the group’s purpose or the community served, it’s provided under the group’s contact information.

To add a group or make a suggestion, email the AdoptUSKids family support team.

Statewide association

Maryland Resource Parent Association
info@mrpa.org 

Parent groups

Adoptions Together Forever Support Group
feleciataylor1955@gmail.com
301-351-2273
Location: Cheverly

Attachment & Trauma Network
lorraine@attachtrauma.org
Locations: Wetsminister and Frederick

Catholic Charities
Location: Baltimore

Center for Adoption Support and Education
singer@adoptionsupport.org
301-476-8525
Location: Burtonsville

CHAIN Resource Parent Group of Maryland
charris5@umbc.edu
Location: Woodstock

Families With Children from China Maryland
Location: Ellicott City

Frederick County Foster/Adoptive Parent Association
frederickfostering@gmail.com
Location: New Market

Kennedy Krieger Institute
Location: Baltimore

One Church One Child of Maryland, Inc Community Parent Support Group
ococofmdinc@verizon.net
410-323-6944
Location: Baltimore

Paths for Families
info@pathsforfamilies.org
Location: Baltimore

Prince George’s County Foster Parent Association
beasleystewart@juno.com
Location: Mitchellville

The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region
Location: Aberdeen

The Barker Adoption Foundation
info@barkerfoundation.org
Location: Bethesda