Maryland Department of Human Services Faces Scrutiny Over Repeat Findings and Child Safety Concerns

The Maryland Department of Human Services is facing intense scrutiny over repeat findings from a recent 70-page audit that identified over a dozen issues, including failure to ensure adults with criminal backgrounds didn't have access to children and that seven registered sex offenders were found living in homes with children under court-approved guardianships. Secretary Rafael Lopez acknowledged the agency's responsibility to deliver solutions and committed to partnering with lawmakers to address the problems. However, lawmakers expressed frustration with the agency's responses, which they felt were insufficient and did not adequately address the serious concerns raised by the audit.

Key Takeaways:

• The audit identified 14 findings, including failure to ensure adults with criminal backgrounds didn't have access to children and the presence of seven registered sex offenders in homes with children under court-approved guardianships.
• Secretary Rafael Lopez acknowledged the agency's responsibility to deliver solutions and committed to partnering with lawmakers to address the problems.
• The agency has implemented policy changes, including standardizing criminal background checks and ending the practice of placing some children in foster care in hotels.
• However, lawmakers disagreed with the agency's assertion that it does not have the statutory authority to conduct background checks on adults living with children in court-approved guardianships.
• The Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee is awaiting a "deeper dive" review by the Department of Legislative Services Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability.
• Some lawmakers suggested that legislation might be needed to bring reforms and address the repeat findings in audits of the department.
• The agency's chief of staff, Webster Ye, acknowledged that the agency is "on the equivalent of academic probation" due to the audit and its repeat findings.

Statistics:

• 14 findings identified in the audit, including failure to ensure adults with criminal backgrounds didn't have access to children and the presence of seven registered sex offenders in homes with children under court-approved guardianships.
• 70-page report issued by the Office of Legislative Audits.
• 5 days between the release of the audit and the discovery of the body of Kanaiyah Ward, 16, who was in state care and had been living in a hotel with registered sex offenders.

Sources:

• Maryland Matters: "State may have put children in homes where registered sex offenders lived" (September 17, 2025)
• Maryland Matters: "Auditors say agency should have checked for sex offender who worked in group foster home" (August 25, 2025)
• Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee: Public hearing transcript (September 17, 2025)
• Office of Legislative Audits: Report (70 pages, August 25, 2025)
• Maryland Department of Human Services: Press release (August 25, 2025)