The Blue Ribbon Project

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Maryland Foster Care System Reforms Advance Following Teen's Death in Hotel

A 16-year-old girl's death by suicide in a Baltimore hotel while under state foster care supervision in September 2025 has prompted Maryland lawmakers to advance comprehensive legislation designed to address systemic failures in the Department of Human Services. The Maryland Department of Human Services investigation released in early January 2026 confirmed that contracted supervisors were negligent in their duties, sparking calls for sweeping reforms including independent oversight, mandatory background checks, and prohibitions on placing vulnerable children in unlicensed facilities.

Justice for the Vulnerable: Maximum Sentencing of Mustafa Pitts and the Systemic Reckoning of Child Welfare in Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD — In a definitive ruling that punctuates a five-year nightmare for a local family, Mustafa Pitts, a former teacher at The Reach! Partnership School, was sentenced on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, to the maximum penalty of 55 years in prison. The sentencing, handed down in Baltimore City Circuit Court, follows Pitts’ July conviction on two counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

Medical Examiner Rules Teen’s Death a Suicide; Case Highlights Ongoing Concerns for Youth in State Care

Update: The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled the death of 16-year-old Kanaiyah Ward a suicide due to diphenhydramine intoxication. Ward was found on September 22 at a Baltimore hotel while in the care of the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS). This update follows our earlier coverage and confirms the official cause and manner of death.

Father Could Face Up to 100 Years in Prison After Abuse Conviction; Mother Pleads to Neglect

Prince George’s County, MD — A father faces up to 100 years in prison and a mother has pleaded guilty to child neglect after a major child abuse case rocked the community.

State Investigates Teen’s Death at Baltimore Hotel

Baltimore officials confirmed Thursday that state authorities are investigating the death of a teenager at a downtown hotel. The case has drawn public attention as questions emerge about the circumstances leading to the tragedy.