Maryland Department of Human Services

The meeting featured a presentation on the correlation between domestic violence and child maltreatment, highlighting its impact on child neurodevelopment, physical and mental health, and the barriers to healthcare access caused by coercive control. Other agenda items included working group updates, a report on pediatric overstays, and partner updates.

The meeting focused on legislative updates concerning the state assembly and various workgroup efforts related to child safety and foster care. Discussions included legislative bills such as House Bill 1272 regarding vetting requirements for prospective kinship caregivers, House Bill 1383 concerning the permanency plan requirements for youth aging out of foster care, House Bill 1290 regarding the child's right to be present in court proceedings, and House Bill 915 concerning the establishment of a workgroup for youth aging out of foster care. The participants discussed the importance of incorporating children's perspectives in placement decisions, ensuring therapeutic services for aging-out youth, and addressing systemic barriers to resource access for youth transitioning into adulthood.

The meeting focused on reviewing legislation from the 2026 session, specifically analyzing HB 1559, HB 1181, SB 996, and HB 980, and comparing them with the work group's recommendations. Additionally, the committee discussed the proposal and timeline for the final work group report and planned future meeting schedules.

The meeting commenced with introductions, noting the absence of Paul Griffin who was scheduled to present on the correlation between child maltreatment and domestic violence. Key discussions focused on legislative priorities for the upcoming 2026 session, sourced primarily from the Maryland Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children. Specific legislative topics included requiring training for child custody evaluators in areas like domestic violence impact, reinstating monthly data sharing reports from DHS which were discontinued, and strengthening background checks for child-serving agencies, referencing previous bills HB 770 and HB 1105. The group also discussed the conflict between mandated school construction guidelines (e.g., clear windows for visibility) aimed at preventing sexual abuse and guidelines aimed at preventing active shooter incidents (e.g., more hiding places). Further legislative priorities involved supporting bills to facilitate unaccompanied youth in the foster care system obtaining state IDs and allowing foster youth attending college to retain their foster home placement during breaks. A statewide newborn home visiting program was also mentioned as an area for study.

The March meeting focused on soliciting participant input regarding key discussion topics for the 2026 work, shifting focus from drafting the initial report to more expansive recommendations. Key discussion points included operationalizing coverage at the point of sale, ensuring easy claim processing for pharmacists, and developing consumer awareness/signage for OTC coverage. There was significant discussion regarding the accessibility and cost of over-the-counter birth control (OTCBC), including concerns over high pricing at vending machines ($40 for Opill) and ensuring equitable access for non-college populations and men, as well as ensuring Medicaid recipients do not pay twice. Presenters also provided updates on the recent health committee briefing concerning the history of OTC work in higher education institutions and support for House Bill 1076, which aims to streamline OTC access programs across four-year and two-year schools. The group prioritized discussing actionable items that do not require legislative changes for immediate implementation, while legislative matters are tracked.