Aberdeen mom charged, again, after police find two young children, ages 3 and 5, home alone

(ABERDEEN, MD)  Two young sisters, ages 3 and 5, were taken to a hospital for evaluation Thursday after Aberdeen police say they were found home alone in an apartment with unsafe living conditions while their mother was at work.

According to the Aberdeen Police Department, officers responded around 11:32 a.m. on July 16 to an apartment in the unit block of Northeast Road after receiving a report that two children had been left unattended.

When officers entered the residence, they found the girls alone inside. Police said the apartment was in unsafe and unsanitary condition, and the children appeared lethargic. Both were transported to a local hospital as a precaution.

Investigators later located the children’s mother, 23-year-old Kahliyah Gooding, at her workplace. According to police, she allegedly admitted she had been leaving the children home alone while she worked because she could not afford daycare.

Gooding was arrested and charged with child neglect.

Police said the case marks the second child neglect investigation involving Gooding in just over two months. She was previously charged following a similar incident on May 6, 2026.

Child Protective Services has since assumed custody of the two children while the investigation continues.

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A Growing Financial Challenge for Working Parents

While the allegations against Gooding are serious, the case also underscores a growing challenge facing many working families: the rising cost of child care.

According to information published by the Maryland Family Network and other childcare resources, the estimated cost of licensed, full-time daycare for two children ages 3 and 5 in Maryland can range from approximately:

• $500–$720 per week
• $2,165–$3,115 per month
• $26,000–$37,400 per year

For many single-income households, those costs can rival rent or mortgage payments, making affordable childcare one of the biggest financial hurdles facing working parents.

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Help Is Available for Families in Need

State and local agencies encourage parents who are struggling to afford child care to seek assistance before leaving children unsupervised.

Among the resources available in Harford County are:

• Maryland Child Care Scholarship Program (CCS): Administered by the Maryland State Department of Education, the program helps eligible working parents pay for licensed child care.
  • Information: https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/child-care-providers/child-care-scholarship-program
  • Apply online: https://childcaresubsidy.maryland.gov
• Maryland Family Network – LOCATE: Child Care: Free referrals to licensed child care providers and financial assistance programs.
  • https://www.marylandfamilynetwork.org
  • Phone: 1-877-261-0060
• Harford County Department of Social Services: Assistance with child care subsidies, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), SNAP benefits, Medicaid, and other support programs.
  • https://dhs.maryland.gov/local-offices/harford-county/

Additional help may also be available through:

• Harford Community Action Agency: https://www.harfordcaa.org
• YMCA of Central Maryland: https://ymaryland.org
• Head Start and Early Head Start programs for eligible preschool-aged children.

Eligibility for assistance generally depends on household income, family size, employment status, and the ages of the children.

Authorities remind parents that even during financial hardship, leaving young children home alone can place them in significant danger and may result in criminal charges. Families experiencing childcare emergencies are encouraged to contact local social service agencies or nonprofit organizations as soon as possible to explore available options.

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Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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