Maryland Overhauls Foster Care System After Tragic Teen Suicide

New laws aim to prevent children from being placed in unsafe, unlicensed settings following the death of 16-year-old Kanaiyah Ward.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 1:45am

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Maryland's foster care system is undergoing significant reforms after a 16-year-old girl, Kanaiyah Ward, died by suicide in a hotel room in September 2025. Her death prompted legislative changes to prohibit the practice of placing children in unlicensed settings like hotels, offices, hospital 'overstays' and homeless shelters. A new law called Kanaiyah's Law aims to strengthen safety standards in foster homes and create an ombudsman to advocate for children independently.

Why it matters

Kanaiyah Ward's tragic death exposed major gaps and failures in Maryland's foster care system, with children being placed in unsafe, unlicensed settings that put their wellbeing at risk. The reforms aim to prevent such tragedies from happening again and ensure foster children are provided with proper care and support.

The details

Kanaiyah Ward, a 16-year-old in Maryland's foster care system, died by suicide in a hotel room in September 2025. Her death prompted an investigation that found the Department of Human Services had been placing children in unlicensed settings like hotels, offices, hospital 'overstays' and homeless shelters - a practice that was ordered to end following a scathing audit. Delegate Mike Griffith, who experienced the foster care system himself, introduced Kanaiyah's Law to prohibit DHS from placing children in unlicensed settings and create an ombudsman to advocate for children independently. The law is part of a broader package of foster care reform legislation aimed at strengthening safety standards in foster homes.

  • Kanaiyah Ward died by suicide in a hotel room in September 2025.
  • From January 2023 to December 2025, 34 youth stayed at a youth shelter in Maryland.

The players

Kanaiyah Ward

A 16-year-old girl in Maryland's foster care system who died by suicide in a hotel room in September 2025, prompting legislative reforms.

Mike Griffith

A Maryland state delegate who experienced the foster care system himself and introduced Kanaiyah's Law to prohibit the placement of children in unlicensed settings.

Maryland Department of Human Services

The state agency that had been placing children in unlicensed settings like hotels, offices, and homeless shelters, a practice that was ordered to end following Kanaiyah Ward's death.

Erica LeMon

The Maryland Legal Aid Director of Advocacy and Children's Rights, who highlighted cases of foster children being placed in unsafe, inappropriate settings.

Stephen Liggett-Creel

The senior advisor to the Maryland Department of Human Services secretary, who acknowledged the placement challenges and said reforms are underway.

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What they’re saying

“The fact that we're having to pass legislation to prohibit those practices is something that none of us could have ever conceived.”

— Mike Griffith, Maryland State Delegate

“Kanaiyah was allowed to be in this room with a bottle with over 350 doses of Benadryl.”

— Mike Griffith, Maryland State Delegate

“This teenage girl was sexually assaulted. It did not occur in her home. Immediately after being released from the hospital, she was placed in a homeless shelter.”

— Erica LeMon, Maryland Legal Aid Director of Advocacy and Children's Rights

“We came in knowing that the state had some real challenges around placement, having the appropriate placement.”

— Stephen Liggett-Creel, Senior Advisor to the Maryland DHS Secretary

“Front and the foremost are these children. And we should never forget that.”

— Erica LeMon, Maryland Legal Aid Director of Advocacy and Children's Rights

What’s next

Kanaiyah's Law and the broader package of foster care reform legislation are expected to be implemented in the coming months, with the goal of improving safety and oversight in the state's foster care system.

The takeaway

The tragic death of Kanaiyah Ward has prompted long-overdue reforms to Maryland's foster care system, which had been placing vulnerable children in unsafe, unlicensed settings. These changes aim to prioritize the wellbeing and protection of foster children, ensuring they receive the proper care and support they deserve.