Maryland DHS grilled over foster care system following girl's death

Lawmakers grill DHS over ‘hospital overstays’ for youth under the state’s care

Webster Ye, Maryland Department of Human Services chief of staff. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)Officials who oversee Maryland’s foster care and out-of-home youth placements say they’ve made significant progress reducing the number of children placed in improper living situations – after months of backlash for kids living in hotels, hospitals and office buildings. Webster Ye, chief of staff for the Maryland Department of Human Ser…

Maryland DHS officials grilled by lawmakers following death of girl living under state care

The Maryland Department of Human Services was on the hot seat Wednesday in Annapolis as a Senate committee grilled members about reforms taken since the death of a 16-year-old girl who was in state care. Kanaiyah Ward died by suicide while living at a Baltimore hotel, officials said. Ward died from an intentional overdose of Benadryl, officials said. The Senate chair grilled DHS officials about how some foster care children who can’t be placed a…

Maryland DHS grilled over foster care system following girl's death

The Senate chair grilled DHS officials about how some foster care children who can't be placed are staying in hospitals for 60 to 100 days. They don't receive services or schooling, and they can't even go outside.