About Our Program
Since 1986, Kennedy Krieger’s Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) program has provided a continuum of services for children with specialized needs who require temporary or permanent out-of-home placements.
Children who are placed in foster and adoptive homes through Kennedy Krieger may have a history of, or be at risk for, institutional or hospital placement
In partnership with public and private child welfare agencies, we carefully match children with families who can offer stability, love, and individualized attention, helping them thrive until they can be reunited with their families, adopted, or transition to independent living.
Kennedy Krieger is uniquely equipped to provide these services, drawing on nearly 90 years of experience helping children who have experienced trauma and who have emotional/behavioral challenges, developmental disabilities, or medically-complex conditions. Our interdisciplinary teams are experts in diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and research across a wide range of cognitive, physical, and emotional needs.
Our Therapeutic Foster Care Program offers domestic foster care and pre-adoption services, primarily funded through the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS).
How You Can Help
Become a Treatment Foster Care Parent
Provide a home and care for a children until they have been returned to their biological family, placed with a relative, adopted or transitioned to independent living.
Adopt a Child
As a licensed adoption agency, we specialize in placing children with families interested in adding to their family.
Provide Respite Care
If you want to help, but are unable to adopt or foster, respite care gives you the opportunity to provide care for short periods of time - a few hours a day, during the weekend, etc.
Therapeutic Foster Care Treatment Parent Testimonials
The best part of the work is helping a child to reach his full potential in life."
— Diane Fiala
Our foster child fits so comfortably here that it feels like he has been in our home forever. I didn't expect that."
— Brenda Super
I never anticipated being a foster parent for this long. I love what I do."
— William Hardy
We get a tremendous amount of support from Kennedy Krieger Institute. If we have a crisis, we can turn to staff members who are right there. They have gone as far as accompanying us to the hospital on emergency visits."
— Theresa Morris
This program had me thinking in a new direction that Tim has a future and a life. There are people at Kennedy Krieger who really care. It meant a lot to me, and I know it meant a lot to Tim."
—Timothy Bruce, birth father of Tim