Maryland Just Created an Independent Watchdog for Foster Kids. Here’s What It Actually Does.

Maryland has passed Kanaiyah’s Law, creating an independent child welfare ombudsman, banning unlicensed foster placements, and tightening guardianship requirements. For…

Federal foster care watchdog quietly rewrote the rules — then sent Maryland a smaller bill

A November 2025 letter from the Children's Bureau reversed a national foster care reimbursement policy, reducing Maryland’s disallowance by $16.…

Months Missing: The Tristan King Case Shows How the System Failed a Child

Tristan King, a nine-year-old boy missing for nearly six months in Baltimore, was ultimately found alive, raising serious concerns about…

Baltimore Child Sex Trafficking Indictment Highlights Growing Crisis and Policy Failures

A Baltimore man faces federal child sex trafficking charges. Father & Co. examines the case, the policy failures, and how…

Maryland’s Most Vulnerable: The Children Who Died While Systems Failed

Since January 2023, Maryland has reported 140–150 child maltreatment fatalities, highlighting urgent failures in the child welfare system. Despite no…

When “Child Protection” Expands the System—but Leaves Children Exposed

Maryland lawmakers are promoting child protection legislation aimed at addressing abuse and neglect. However, critics highlight that these measures increase…

Two Towson Girls Rescued in Pennsylvania — And Another Towson Trafficking Bust Shows Why Maryland Parents Can’t Let Their Guard Down

Two Baltimore County girls, 14 and 16, were recovered in Pennsylvania after going missing following school. Their case, along with…

Maryland Admits Nearly 1,000 Foster Children Missing Since 2020 — Most Are Teenage Girls

Maryland’s Department of Human Services revealed on October 22, 2025, that 990 children in foster care went missing from January…

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Father & Co. is an independent journalism and advocacy platform dedicated to rebuilding trust between parents, children, and the systems meant to protect them.
We report the stories others won’t—on family courts, child welfare, disability rights, and constitutional accountability.
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