When you join the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), you join a team of more than 5,000 employees across the state dedicated to positively changing the lives of more than 1 million Marylanders each year. We do this by providing economic support, preventive services, and caring for children and adults.
We aim to deliver services so that we more quickly meet the needs of the people we serve. At DHS, we grapple with hard questions to find new ways to foster a culture of bold innovation. We do this to ensure that in Maryland, we leave no one behind.
This is a Management Service position that serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.
19
Maryland Department of Human Services
Social Services Administration
25 S Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Pursuant to Chapter 158 of the Acts of 2026 (House Bill 980 / Kanaiyah's Law), this high-level professional administrative and legal advocacy position serves as the State Foster Youth Ombudsman for youth experiencing out-of-home care statewide. Housed within the SSA Office of Family Advocacy, the incumbent operates with statutory independence to serve as a neutral, objective advocate for youth, caregivers, guardians, resource parents, and adoptive parents interacting with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS). The primary purpose of this role is to enforce accountability and transparency within the state's child welfare infrastructure. The incumbent independently investigates complex complaints regarding the rights and safety of youth in out-of-home care, resolves systemic and individual service delivery gaps, interprets statutory obligations, and delivers executive-level recommendations directly to SSA and DHS leadership to drive statewide operational and policy improvements. At all times, the incumbent will provide customer service to both internal and external customers that meets or exceeds the standards set by the Department.
- Executes all duties, investigations, and reporting mandates in strict accordance with the statutory requirements of House Bill 980 (Kanaiyah's Law).
- Investigates complex, high-profile complaints and alleged violations concerning the rights, placement conditions, and safety of youth experiencing out-of-home care across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions.
- Conducts Independent Fact-Finding Reviews to evaluate whether actions taken by LDSS or contractual providers conform to federal and state laws, COMAR regulations, SSA policies, and established child welfare practice standards.
- Provides authoritative legal and technical expertise regarding child welfare, juvenile court jurisdiction, out-of-home placement restrictions (including the statutory ban on unlicensed settings), custody/guardianship matters, and due process appeal rights.
- Interprets and applies complex legal frameworks, consent decrees, and agency directives to determine appropriate resolutions for aggrieved youth and stakeholders.
- Formulates formal corrective recommendations based on investigative findings and consults directly with SSA Executive Leadership, Local Department Directors, and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to resolve sensitive or high-risk systemic non-compliance issues.
- Ensures absolute statutory compliance with strict confidentiality boundaries, HIPAA, mandated reporting protocols, and disclosure exemptions during all investigative and advocacy operations.
- Establishes and leads statewide outreach strategies designed to inform youth in foster care, kinship caregivers, attorneys, and advocacy groups of the Ombudsman’s role, responsibilities, and mechanism for submitting direct complaints.
- Engages directly with youth experiencing out-of-home care to ensure their voices, lived experiences, and rights actively inform SSA programmatic improvements and statutory recommendations.
- Represents the Office of Family Advocacy on high-level interagency workgroups, legislative committees, and task forces regarding child welfare reform and accountability.
- Collaborates with System Partners, including juvenile courts, panel attorneys, the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman, and local social work staff to mediate deep-seated disputes and drive positive case-level outcomes.
- Directs the Management and Tracking of the statewide Ombudsman case portfolio, ensuring precise, legally secure documentation of all inquiries, case activities, and final resolutions.
- Performs advanced data and trend Analysis to identify recurring systemic deficiencies, regional operational patterns, or gaps in service delivery that negatively impact youth stability.
- Authors and edits legally mandated annual, quarterly, and ad hoc public reports detailing Ombudsman activities, case statistics, compliance metrics, and actionable policy or statutory recommendations for the Secretary, the Governor, and the General Assembly.
Education: A Juris Doctor degree or equivalent degree from an accredited school of law.
Experience: Five years of experience as a practicing attorney.
Notes:
1. Candidates for this classification must be members of the Maryland Bar at the time of appointment.
2. The above requirements are set by Maryland House Bill 980 Guardianship Assistance Program and State Foster Youth Ombudsman – Establishment (Kanaiyah’s Law).
3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in General Attorney classifications or General Attorney specialty codes in the Legal and Kindred field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education and experience.
The ideal candidate will possess the following:
- One year of experience in representing a government agency, public service law, or serving as an advocate in a community activist/services capacity.
- One year of experience in juvenile law, Child Welfare or Human Services.
- One year experience as a judicial clerk.
- Completion of at least two relevant courses in human services or public policy, OR successful completion of a clinical program or internship in a legal setting serving human services clients.
Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be placed on the employment (eligible) list. The resulting list may be used for future vacancies with this agency or other state agencies.
If you are in State service and are a promotional candidate, your salary will be determined in accordance with State of Maryland guidelines.
As an employee of the State of Maryland, you will have access to outstanding benefits, including: health insurance, dental, and vision plans offered at a low cost. CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR MORE DETAILS: STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS.
- Personal Leave - new State employees are awarded six (6) personnel days annually (prorated based on start date).
- Annual Leave - ten (10) days of accumulated annual leave per year.
- Sick Leave - fifteen (15) days of accumulated sick leave per year.
- Parental Leave - up to sixty (60) days of paid parental leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
- Holidays - State employees also celebrate at least thirteen (13) holidays per year.
- Pension - State employees earn credit towards a retirement pension.
- Positions may be eligible for telework.
The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to, Maryland Department of Human Services, Employment Services, Attention: Kendra Young, 25 South Charles St, Room 1116-L, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.
If you have any questions concerning the recruitment process for this position, please email Kendra Young at kendra.young2@maryland.gov; include the job title and recruitment # in the subject line.
If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division, at 410-767-4850 or Application.Help@maryland.gov.
TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.
As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.
