Sun series: Maryland's troubled group homes

About the series

In an investigation of state oversight of group homes going back a decade, The Sun found that:

Maryland's Troubled Group Homes

State's lax oversight puts fragile children at risk

There were warning signs in the months before 11-year-old Arthur Lee Wiley became deathly ill.

Divided authority leads to murky responsibility

Maryland's oversight of group homes for children is complicated by the numerous agencies that play roles - some overlapping. One result is poor communication among offices, according to interviews and a review of licensing and monitoring records.

Md.'s Troubled Group Homes

Nonprofits reap generous perks

Second of four parts

The word gets out early: 'Licensing is coming'

During his 15 months managing four group homes run by Evershine Residential Services Inc., Dennis Waters saw inspectors from the Department of Human Resources visit once. "We knew they were coming," he said. "It wasn't a surprise."

Md.'s Troubled Group Homes

Regulation of staff at homes is lacking

Group homes for children can employ almost anyone -- even convicted criminals.

Md.'s troubled group homes

Reforms proposed, then put on the shelf

More than three years ago, Maryland was handed a blueprint to improve the care of nearly 3,000 children in privately run group homes.

For troubled teens, 'a second home'

BOONSBORO - She points proudly to a new report card marked with A's and B's and talks about a future career in law enforcement. Then she acknowledges that she'd be a high school dropout abusing drugs if she hadn't been sent five months earlier to the San Mar Children's Home here.

Md.'s troubled group homes

Leaders vow to fix Md. group homes

Assailing Maryland's lax oversight of children's group homes, legislative leaders pledged yesterday to investigate and make major improvements, with some saying there needs to be an overhaul of the entire child welfare system.

Sun Q&A on group homes

Clifford Collins, Randallstown: Have you analyzed the negative impact of group homes on local public schools? Most public schools in the Randallstown and Woodlawn areas do not have the resources to adequately serve agency-based students with special needs.

Documents for group homes series

Part 1