Md. Code Regs. 07.02.09.02

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 26, December 27, 2024

Section 07.02.09.02 - Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Abuse" means:

(a) Child abuse as defined in Family Law Article, § 5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland; or

(b) Sexual abuse of a child as defined in Family Law Article, § 5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, whether or not a child sustains physical injuries.

(2) "Administration" means the Social Services Administration of the Department of Human Services.

(3) "Adoption" means the legal proceeding by which an individual becomes the child of an adoptive family and has all the legal rights and privileges to which a child born to that family would be entitled.

(4) "Case plan" has the meaning stated in COMAR 07.02.11

(5) "Child" means an individual under age 18.

(6) "Child in care" means a child or young adult for whom the local department has responsibility for placement, care, custody, or guardianship.

(7) "Child in care's family" means the child in care's birth family, adoptive family, or legal guardians.

(8) "CPS" means the child protective services unit that responds to reports of suspected child abuse or neglect pursuant to Family Law Article § 5-701 et. seq.

(9) "Day" means a calendar day unless otherwise specified.

(10) "Department" means the Department of Human Services.

(11) "Family" means the basic family unit consisting of one or more adults and children related by blood, marriage, adoption, legal guardianship, or domestic partnership as that term is defined in Health General Article, §6-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(12) "Household" means the location where the applicant or licensed kinship caregiver resides.

(13) "Household member" means an individual who lives in or is regularly present in a household.

(14) "Kin" means an individual who is related to the child through blood or marriage, adoption, tribal law or custom, or cultural custom or practice; or an individual who is unrelated to the child, but has a strong familial or significant bond with the child, or is a person identified by the child's parent.

(15) "Kinship care" means continuous 24-hour care and supportive services provided for a child in care placed in the home of a kinship caregiver.

(16) "Kinship caregiver" means an individual who is at least 18 years old and with whom a child in care may be placed for temporary or long-term care; and

(a) Is related to a child in care through blood or marriage, adoption, tribal law or custom, or cultural custom or practice; and

(b) If not related as in (a) of this subsection, has a strong familial or other significant bond to such child, or is a person identified by the child's parent.

(17) "Kinship resource home" means the residence of an individual or individuals who are licensed as a kinship caregiver.

(18) "Licensed" means approved by a local department as a kinship caregiver and a resource for custody and guardianship or adoption of a child in care.

(19) "Local department" means a department of social services in a county, Baltimore City, or the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.

(20) "Local director" means the director of a local department.

(21) "Monthly care stipend" means financial support that a local department provides a kinship caregiver to assist them with caring for a child in care placed in the home.

(22) "Neglect" means child neglect as defined in Family Law Article, § 5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(23) "Out-of-home care" means out-of-home placement and the monitoring of and services provided to a child in aftercare following a child's out-of-home placement.

(24) "Out-of-home placement" means a living arrangement for a child in care, including foster care, kinship care, group care, or residential treatment care.

(25) "Parent" means the legal mother or father of a child or young adult whose rights have not been terminated or a legal guardian other than a local department.

(26) "Permanency plan" means a plan specifying where and with whom a child in care will live and the proposed legal relationship between the child in care and the temporary or permanent caregivers.

(27) "Regularly present in the household" means visiting or staying in a home with sufficient frequency to make an individual a significant part of the household.

(30) "Secondhand smoke" means a complex mixture of gasses and particles that includes:

(a) Sidestream smoke, that is, smoke from a burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe; and

(b) Exhaled mainstream smoke.

(31) "Worker" means a local department staff person assigned to work with and support a kinship caregiver or a child in care.

(32) "Young adult" means an individual 18 years old or older but not yet 21.

Md. Code Regs. 07.02.09.02

Regulation .02 adopted effective 51:24 Md. R. 1081, eff. 12/12/2024.