Welcome to the Maryland Resource Parent Association!
Our mission is to provide the best possible content to Resource Parents of all kinds, including Foster, Adoptive and Kinship parents.
We provide information and updates about news and events that are of importance to Resource Parents, and work daily to make sure they have the support they need to provide the best care possible.
There is no membership fee. Our resources are freely available to all! Feel free to share them with other parents in your network.
We’re glad you found us!
Resource Parent Training Opportunities
Watch here for notifications of a new series of webinars called ‘First Tueday’, where we will host a special learning seminar on the first Tuesday evening of each month at 8pm. Make plans to join us each month, and watch our website and Facebook for notifications of that month’s topic!
MRPA Trainings & Webinars
Closed
First Tuesday 1/5/21: Josh Kroll of the NACAC - Adoption Tax Credits: What Adoptive Parents Need to Know
Zoom Webinar
On January 5, 2021 the MRPA will host a webinar with Josh Kroll with the NACAC, the North American Council on Adoptable Children. Learn more about this organization here.
Topic
Josh will share his expertise in the area of tax credits – what exists, how to set them up, and how to gain the most benefit from them as an adoptive parent.
Participants will learn the steps they need to take to file for the U.S. federal adoption tax credit. The focus will be on filing for 2020, but will also cover applying for the credit for adoptions as far back as 2017. Presenter Josh Kroll will explain what parents need to do to take advantage of the credit. Key points include that the credit is not a refundable credit for 2020 and that parents who adopt children who receive adoption assistance/adoption subsidy benefits do not need to have adoption-related expenses to claim the credit. The session will focus on families who adopted children with special needs from foster care but will be applicable to all adoptive families as well.
When & Where?
- January 5th, 8pm – 9:30pm
- Via Zoom, call info will be emailed to you after registration.
Mr. Kroll’s photo courtesy of LinkedIn.
Register in advance for this meeting here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAscuGrqDwqE9YJvjYqozx3JsPPdPH3YXQj
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom containing information about joining the meeting.
12/15/20 Q&A with Josh Kroll of the NACAC - Submit YOUR Questions Here!
Zoom Webinar
On 12/15 the MRPA will host a webinar with Josh Kroll with the NACAC, the North American Council on Adoptable Children. Learn more about this organization here.
Topic
As a follow up to the December 1st session on the state laws around adoption, subsidies and financial support available to Maryland’s Resource Parents, Josh will return to answer your specific questions on the topic!
Submit your question below. Your name and contact info will not be shared, that is just being gathered so we have it in case follow up is needed. Your questions will be entirely anonymous.
When & Where?
- December 15th, 8pm – 9:30pm
- Via Zoom, call info will be emailed to you after registration.
Mr. Kroll’s photo courtesy of LinkedIn.
Register in advance for this meeting here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctfuuqqToiGdSmMpwdcHh_yv6B78Huf6EU
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom containing information about joining the meeting.
Submit Your Question Here
First Tuesday 12/1/20: MRPA Adoption Assistance with NACAC's Josh Kroll (Video & Slides From the Session - Click Here)
Video from the Session
Session Slides
Download the slides HERE.
Zoom Webinar
On 12/1 the MRPA will host a webinar with Josh Kroll with the NACAC, the North American Council on Adoptable Children. Learn more about this organization here.
Topic
Josh is an expert on the state laws around adoption, subsidies, and financial support available to Maryland’s Resource Parents. He’ll share vital information with the group, and will be available for Q&A.
When & Where?
- December 1st, 8pm – 9:30pm
- Via Zoom, call info will be emailed to you after registration.
Mr. Kroll’s photo courtesy of LinkedIn.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Online Training Opportunities
Closed
Spring 2021 Child Welfare Academy Parent Training Calendar (PDF)
Be sure to review the many, many training opportunities that are coming up for Spring, 2021!
Download the schedule here.
Free Online Safety Workshops - Preventing Child Abuse
There has been a staggering increase in online child sexual abuse and exploitation in the U.S. and other countries since the beginning of the pandemic:
- “Tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the clearinghouse for such information in the United States, nearly doubled from 6.3 million in the first half of 2019 to 12 million through June of this year. Reports of online enticement similarly spiked during that timeframe, from 6,863 to 13,268.” in The Herald News
- “Through Oct. 9, New Jersey had received 5,251 reports of online child exploitation, a 75% increase from 2,996 at the same point last year, said Lt. John Pizzuro, commander of the state police’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.” in North Jersey.com
- “Alarmingly, the report notes a rise in the amount of self-produced CSAM online, created by children who are spending more time online as a result of the lockdown.” In Info Security Magazine
- “In the Philippines, cases of online child sex abuse have tripled amid the pandemic. Officials and activists told the media that the problem worsened during the country’s lockdown period as families struggled to earn a living while children have been out of school and spending more time online.” in The Asean Post
Child sexual abuse is a preventable public health problem.
Educating parents, caregivers and trusted adults to the risks, and giving them tips on how to protect the kids in their life is a simple step we can take to address the issue. Our Maryland Essentials for Childhood partner, No More Stolen Childhoods is providing free online trainings to educate adults to the risks and sharing action steps for parents and other caregivers to take to prevent child sexual abuse before it occurs. Please share the online safety webinars with parents, providers, and other community members who can learn themselves and help to get the word out to others. You can use the provided flyers or simply share the link to the website page.
NMSC is providing 4 sessions scheduled in early November, let’s fill them!
Register for these online classes HERE.
Flyers – Click to View or Print
Resource Parent Training Website
Access the Resource Parent Training Website HERE
We are excited to announce that the new Resource Parent Training website and catalog are now available!
Workshops from July ’20 onward are continually being added, so check back regularly to see which are open for registration.
Create Your Account
If you are a resource parent and you have not yet created an account in the Ideas@theInstitute LMS (Learning Management system):
- Please use the link below to create your new profile. Upon clicking the link, participants will be asked to complete the sign-up form associated with the link which designates that you are Approved Status for Resource Parent training access.
- Please create profiles for each individual if you are part of a couple. Only one account can be created per email address.
- Click here to create your new profile: https://theinstitute.myabsorb.com?KeyName=ResourceParents
Already Have An Account?
Instructions for resource parents who ALREADY created a new account in Ideas@theInstitute
- If you already have an account set-up in Ideas@theInstitute, please contact the help desk by email or chat to have your Resource Parent status verified and added to your profile. After this process has been completed, you will then have access to Resource Parent trainings.
- Email the Help Desk at theinstitutehelp@ssw.umaryland.edu and put Resource Parent Approved Status in the subject line and make sure your name and work email are included in the body of the email.
General Instructions
Once you are logged into the website, you will first be asked to complete an initial “course” which is simply an introduction to the program.
Once that is completed, you will see this screen below. The catalog will be available by clicking the link on the right hand side under RESOURCES:
If you need assistance you can email the Help Desk at theinstitutehelp@ssw.umaryland.edu or you can contact the Help Desk by LIVE CHAT. The Help Desk is available Monday – Friday from 9am to 5pm ET.
Access the Resource Parent Training Website HERE
Maryland KISS (Kids in Safety Seats)
Sign up for Video car seat assistance to help you with getting car seats installed correctly.
Visit this link to find a time.
Together We Celebrate National Adoption Month 2020
In 1995, President Bill Clinton expanded what had been ‘National Adoption Week’ to encompass the entire month of November, during which we honor and celebrate the achievements of adoptive parents. MRPA celebrates resource parents of all kinds, every day, and in November we pay special homage to adoptive parents across Maryland who are making life better for the children in their care.
Maryland 2020 Adoptive Parents of the Year
During this Thanksgiving Week we are honored to share the winners of the ‘Maryland Adoptive Parents of the Year’ awards. They were each nominated by their Jurisdiction for outstanding contributions, and we sincerely thank each and every one for their tireless work and dedication to the welfare of children.
Follow us here and on Facebook, as we’ll be sharing more award winners on Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to Thanksgiving day.
And now… drum roll,please!… we present the award winners! Appropriately, click on the ‘heart’ to view their complete nomination.

One Church, One Child of Maryland Honors the 2020 Adoptive Parents of the Year
The Maryland Resource Parent Association is proud to partner with One Church, One Child of Maryland, an organization dedicated to the placement of children in loving homes.
From their website:
One Church, One Child works to reduce the numbers of children in the Maryland foster care system through adoption education and recruitment. We seek to increase adoption opportunities for Maryland’s waiting children.
We believe that all of Maryland’s waiting children–regardless of age, circumstances or challenge–deserve a permanent, loving nurturing family. We believe that our efforts will result in finding the right parents for these children.
Learn more here.
In honor of Adoption Month this November, 2020, an event was held to recognize many of the adoptive parents in the state of Maryland. We are delighted to share them here with our MRPA audience!
To learn more about each of these dedicated adoptive parents, click on the ‘heart’ for more details.
The MRPA Mission
Our Mission is to provide support service to all Resource Families in the state of Maryland. Membership in the Association shall be open to all Resource Parents.
MRPA supports foster, adoptive, kinship and guardianship parents all across the state of Maryland.
Whether you are a current resource parent, a prospective resource parent, or a child welfare professional, MRPA is there to support you.
We realize it takes all of us working together to give children in need a stable, loving family.
Keeping Resource Parents In the Know
MRPA Community News
Notice of Eligibility: Pandemic EBT Retroactive September P-EBT issuance / Aviso de Elegibilidad: EBT en la pandemia (P-EBT) Emisión de la P-EBT en septiembre
Notice of Eligibility: Pandemic EBT Retroactive September P-EBT issuance Over the summer, you received a notice from the State of Maryland indicating that one or more children in your household were eligible for Pandemic EBT or P-EBT. P-EBT benefits were loaded to...
Announcement: MRPA Has Requested A Temporary Hold on In-Person Visits Due to Covid-19 Concerns
Maryland is experiencing the most serious spike in the number of reported Covid-19 illnesses and deaths since May of last year. In response, the Maryland Resource Parent Association is calling for an immediate 60 day-or-more suspension of the Maryland Dept. of Social...
How the CARES Act can affect your 2020 tax deductions: World Vision Article
Article Excerpt Are you seeking out maximum tax deductions for 2020? The charitable contribution limit for 2020 has changed: We spoke with one of our experienced finance professionals for insight on this year’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)...
Children’s Cabinet Funds (One Time DHS/SSA Stipend)
Please take immediate note of the following message from Michelle L. Farr, Executive Director of the Socials Services Administration, regarding a one-time stipend for Resource Parents with children during the period of July 1 - December 31, 2020. [pdf-embedder...
Why Are the Holidays so Hard for Traumatized Kids?
(Repost from Serenity Links Coaching) The holidays are festive and fun, but they can also be torture for our traumatized kids! The very things we love about the season can send our child’s issues into overdrive and their behavior into orbit. That can easily make this...
Continuous Resolution P-EBT Update/Resolución de continuar la P-EBT
Continuous Resolution P-EBT Update This is to inform you that a recent federal budget resolution will provide additional Pandemic EBT or P-EBT benefits. The Maryland Department of Human Services and the State Department of Education are working collaboratively to...
NFPA Training Opportunity: Mentorship Series: Reach, Raise, Love, and Train the Next Generation
MRPA would like to share this training opportunity with the NFPA! TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT Available Online Teaching mentors about ways to reach, raise, love, and train the next generation, Brian D. Molitor will talk about the many aspects of mentoring that...
OUR FOSTER DAD SAVED US
https://americanspcc.org/testimonial/our-foster-dad-saved-us/
2020 Census: Count All Kids
The 2020 Census is complete as of October, but we’ve left this resource on our site for reference.
“The Count All Kids Campaign is a public outreach effort to working with advocates, state and local policy makers, complete count committees, service providers, and others to persuade families with young children to fill out the census questionnaire and make sure they include all their children.”