Maryland Ends Foster Youth Hotel Stays After Teen’s Death

In a significant move prompted by a heartbreaking tragedy, Maryland has officially ended the practice of housing foster youth in hotels. This decision comes after the devastating death of 16-year-old Kanaiyah Ward, whose suicide in a Baltimore hotel highlighted critical failures in the state’s child welfare system.

A Deadline Met After Tragic Loss

The Maryland Department of Human Services announced on November 24th that all foster children have been removed from hotel placements across the state. This fulfills a deadline set in October by Human Services Secretary Rafael López, just weeks after Ward’s death.

Lillian Price, a spokeswoman for the department, confirmed that no youth are currently staying in hotels, shelters, or offices. When the current administration took office, over 40 youth were residing in hotels, making the end of this practice a top priority.

The Tragic Case of Kanaiyah Ward

Kanaiyah Ward, who had been in foster care for several years, died by suicide on September 22nd. Records indicate her assigned chaperone was told by other staff that Ward was a “heavy sleeper” when she couldn’t be woken for school. The chaperone left the hotel, only to return hours later to find Ward unresponsive.

An autopsy revealed Ward died by suicide, with an empty bottle of diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in Benadryl) found near her. Her family’s attorney, Thomas Doyle, stated that Ward struggled with mental health but came from a loving home and that her relatives had been actively trying to get her out of the hotel placement.

Demands for Accountability and Systemic Change

Ward’s family and their attorney are demanding answers and accountability, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic change within the foster care system. “If we’re not protecting the children, then we’re all failing,” Doyle stated, highlighting the moral imperative to safeguard vulnerable youth.

In response to the tragedy, Secretary López issued a directive prohibiting hotels as placements for youth. The department has been working to reduce reliance on unlicensed settings since 2023, including improving data systems to better track placements.

Between fiscal years 2023 and 2024, at least 280 Maryland foster youth spent time in hotels. All children previously in these settings have now been moved to licensed accommodations, such as kinship caregivers, foster homes, and congregate care facilities.

The work is far from over. We will not rest until every child in our state is safe, residing in a permanent home and surrounded by loving family. — Lillian Price, Maryland Department of Human Services spokeswoman