Foster care

Art with a Heart works to improve lives through visual art. The organization brings interactive art classes to schools, community centers, group homes, shelters, hospitals, and housing facilities. It also runs youth leadership programs for 10th and 11th graders, and job training programs for youth ages 14–24.

3000 Falls Road Mill No. 1 Baltimore MD 21211

 (410) 366-8886

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

BCDSS provides foster care and adoption services for children and youth in Baltimore City. They support children who can’t live with their birth families by placing them in safe, caring foster homes or with adoptive families.

See other resources by BCDSS:

Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS): Youth Resources

Go to website  

•  

BCDSS offers a variety of resources to support youth in foster care throughout Baltimore City. These resources help youth with education, housing, life skills, and preparing for independence.

See other resources by BCDSS:

Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS): Adoption & Foster Care Services

Go to website  

•  

Baltimore Crisis Response Inc. (BCRI) is a nonprofit organization that provides behavioral health and crisis services. Since 1992, they have been helping individuals manage and overcome mental health and substance use disorders through crisis intervention, support, and care.

5124 Greenwich Avenue Baltimore MD 21229

 (410) 433-5255

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

Child Welfare Information Gateway is a helpful resource that connects youth, families, and professionals to trusted information about child welfare services. Whether you’re looking for support or just want to understand the system better, this gateway offers clear, reliable guidance.

Go to website  

•  

Community Advocates for You is a network of professionals, parents, and community advocates who have joined forces to provide person-centered support to individuals with disabilities and their families.  Most of our services are at no cost to our clients.

P.O. Box 113 Owings Mills MD 21117

 443-219-2883

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

CASA of Baltimore is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting abused and neglected children in Baltimore City. When children enter the foster care or juvenile court system, it can be a confusing and difficult time. CASA steps in to provide a reliable, caring adult who acts as their voice in court and beyond.

CASA recruits, trains, and supervises volunteers who are appointed by the Baltimore City Juvenile Court to represent individual children. These advocates build trusting relationships with the children and work closely with families, social workers, schools, doctors, and judges. Their role is to monitor the child’s safety, well-being, and progress, and to provide objective, thorough written reports and recommendations to the court. This helps judges make decisions that are truly in the best interest of the child.

CASA advocates serve as a steady, consistent presence during a time when a child’s life may feel uncertain. They help ensure that children’s needs are met—whether that’s access to education, medical care, or stable housing—and that their voices are heard throughout the legal process.

8 Market Place Suite 300 Baltimore MD 21202

 (410) 244-1465

•  
•  
•  

The Maryland State Department of Human Services offers comprehensive information and support for foster care in the state. Whether you’re interested in becoming a foster parent, already a resource parent, or a youth in care, this resource provides guidance on everything related to foster care.

Go to website  

•  

The Foster Parent Ombudsman advocates for foster parents and kinship providers, and may act as an intermediary between them and local departments of social services when issues need to be resolved. The Ombudsman investigates complaints against foster parents. The Foster Parent Ombudsman reports to the Office of Secretary in Maryland’s Department of Human Services.

Go to website  

•  
•  

The Foster Youth Ombudsman advocates for foster youth and reports to the Office of Secretary in Maryland’s Department of Human Services.

Go to website  

•  
•  

HARBEL is a caring multipurpose organization that works to build and support our communities through service, advocacy, and empowerment. The foundation of our support to northeast Baltimore is built upon the three pillars of housing, prevention and recovery and community service. There are three main services:

• The Housing Partnership serves communities in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Home buyers should seek services from the housing counseling agency where they are most likely to purchase a home.
• Harbel’s Community Relations program has the most far-reaching positive impact of all of member associations in the Northeast.
• An outpatient substance abuse prevention and treatment center which serves adults and adolescents in Baltimore City and the surrounding areas.

5807 Harford Rd Baltimore MD 21214

 (410) 444-2100

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

HEBCAC Youth Opportunity Center (HEBCAC-YO) is a program in East Baltimore that helps out-of-school youth and young adults aged 18-24 get back on track with education, counseling, and career training. They offer GED classes, career training in fields like healthcare, hospitality, and construction, and life skills workshops. The center also connects you to other services, like housing and healthcare, to help you succeed academically and professionally.

1212 N Wolfe St Baltimore MD 21213

 (443) 524-2800

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

MATCH is a program run by HealthCare Access Maryland (HCAM) that helps children in foster care or kinship care in Baltimore City get the health care they need. Whether it’s regular check-ups, dental care, mental health services, or special treatments, MATCH works to make sure every child’s health is taken care of.

MATCH provides health care coordination, education, and advocacy services. This means they help families and caseworkers arrange medical appointments, understand health care options, and make sure children get timely and appropriate care. The program collaborates closely with caseworkers from the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS) as well as foster and kinship parents to support the child’s overall health and well-being.

1 North Charles Street Suite 900 Baltimore MD 21201

 (443) 423-5960

•  

The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) is the state’s main provider of social services, offering support to individuals and families across Maryland. Through its local offices—including one in Baltimore City—DHS helps with food assistance, housing, cash benefits, child welfare, and more. Their goal is to protect vulnerable people and support those in economic need.

25 South Charles Street Baltimore MD 21201

Go to website  

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

The Maryland Tuition Waiver helps youth who have been in foster care by providing financial assistance to pay for college or vocational school. If you’re enrolled in a Maryland public college, university, or vocational program pursuing an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or vocational certificate, this waiver can cover your tuition costs.

Go to website  

•  

MYLIFE! is a supportive program and website designed especially for youth and young adults who are currently in or have been part of the Maryland Child Welfare system. It’s also a resource for foster parents, social workers, legal advocates, and community organizations who support youth in foster care.

Go to website  

•  

Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood is a group mentoring program serving Kings between the ages of 8 and 18 who live in the Baltimore Metropolitan area since 1996 where education, speakers, trips, sporting events, health forums, conflict resolution, STD and AIDS workshops, and real conversations about the ‘Hood’ come together to build strong Kings and prepare them to compete in a society that too often allows them to slip through the cracks. The program has real life conversations about topics that impact our community.

2100 N Monroe St 2nd Floor Baltimore MD 21216

 (410) 852-8013

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

This handbook, created by the Maryland Department of Human Resources Social Service Administration (MDHR SSA), explains what to expect when you’re placed in foster care or other out-of-home settings. It’s designed for youth ages 14 to 21.

Go to website  

•  

The SILA program helps foster youth in Baltimore City practice living on their own while still getting support and supervision from the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS). It’s a step toward full independence, allowing youth to build important life skills like managing a budget, cooking, and handling daily responsibilities.

See other resources by Ready by 21:
Ready by 21: Job Searching Resources

Go to website  

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

Roberta’s House is a safe place where children, teens and adults discover that they are not alone in their grief. Children with their families share their feelings, memories and experiences in an atmosphere of acceptance with the love and support of trained volunteers.

928 E. North Ave Baltimore MD 21202

 (410) 235-6633

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

WIN (What I Need) Family Health is a faith-based agency that provides behavioral health and treatment foster care services. They support children, youth, and families by offering counseling and therapy to help manage emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges.

4640 Edmondson Avenue Baltimore MD 21229

 (410) 578-8003

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•