The Talbot County Department of Social Services (TCDSS) is recognizing Kinship Appreciation Month by honoring the kinship caregivers who are raising Maryland’s children. Kinship care keeps children with trusted adults they already know and love. Most of the time, it’s family, but other times, it’s a friend, sports coach, or member of their faith community.
TCDSS recently invited kinship caregivers and traditional resource (foster) parents to enjoy a crab feast together, celebrating their commitment to young people across the county. TCDSS gave the families gifts of appreciation while the children enjoyed playing games during the special event.
“Kin resources, family, and family by choice, are such an important part of our work to minimize disruptions and trauma for young people, while maximizing stability and security for them,” said Director of TCDSS, Linda Webb. “We invited kinship families to our annual crab feast for the first time because we recognize the growing role they play in the care of our children here in Talbot County. We’re pleased to honor them once again as we recognize their contributions during National Kinship Care Month.”
Maryland’s historic kinship care law celebrates its first anniversary on October 1st.
The law established a preference for placing youth experiencing out-of-home care with relatives or family by choice. It modernized the definition of “kin” to include trusted adults and also removed outdated restrictions that didn’t reflect how modern families function.
The law set the stage for broader policy and regulatory reforms that would support the entire state’s transition to a kin-first culture. It introduced kin-specific licensing to simplify the process and expanded access to financial support. This remains critical to ensure that poverty is not a primary reason for keeping young people separated from their families.
Kinship caregiver Eve Brown, of Easton, said, “The journey isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it to change the life of a child who has no one by giving them a nurturing, loving, and safe home. As a former child in the foster care system, I can recognize what works, and what doesn’t, for him. I’m a strong advocate for him. He appreciates that I have experienced some of the same challenges in foster care and while living in group homes. He has disabilities, so I’ve learned about his medical care and how to advocate for him in school. The Talbot County Department of Social Services is very supportive. The staff gets us the resources we need and helps me successfully care for him.”
Kerri Roberts, a Kinship Navigator at the TCDSS, said, “Keeping children connected to family or ‘family by choice,’ their culture, and community reduces the likelihood of trauma for young people separated from their parents. It reinforces the stability children need to continue to grow, learn, and feel safe.”
The process to become a licensed kinship caregiver includes conducting background checks on all of the adults in the household, as well as completing a caregiver and home assessment. The kinship licensing process is simplified to ensure that youth are quickly placed. Kinship caregivers are provided a monthly stipend.
For more information about becoming a licensed kinship provider or resource parent, please call the Talbot County Department of Social Services at (410) -820-7371 or visit https://midshoreresourceparents.com.
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