Baltimore Foster Parents House 15 Kids, Prioritize Reunification

Source: thebanner.com

TL;DR

The story at a glance

De’Jonnae Boyd Moreno and José Moreno, a Northeast Baltimore couple, have cared for 15 foster children over five years, far outpacing most families in a state desperate for placements. Their focus on reunification sets them apart in Baltimore, where foster homes have plummeted. This profile highlights their persistence as Maryland grapples with shortages that once left children in hotels and hospitals.[[1]](https://www.thebanner.com/education/early-childhood/baltimore-foster-parents-transforming-system-N6YFLR2IIJAIPCYH6IBNLFB32I/)[[2]](https://www.thebanner.com/education/early-childhood/baltimore-foster-parents-transforming-system-N6YFLR2IIJAIPCYH6IBNLFB32I)

Key moments & milestones

Signature highlights

Key quotes

“If you’re doing it right, you’re giving your all: all of your money, all of your time, all of your thinking space. You have to give with no expectation of anything.”

De’Jonnae Boyd Moreno

“Foster care is not to build your family. It’s to provide safe spaces for children.”

De’Jonnae Boyd Moreno

“They just won’t take the no that some do.”

Bill Blevins, president of Baltimore City Resource Parent Association

Why it matters

Foster children face heightened risks of homelessness, incarceration, and abuse without stable homes, straining Maryland's overburdened system. For decision-makers, Boyd Moreno and Moreno model advocacy—pushing caseworkers and respecting roots—that retains families and prioritizes reunification over adoptions. Watch state efforts to end hotel placements and boost kinship care, as committed parents like them demand accountability.