Md. Code Regs. 07.02.09.07

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

Section 07.02.09.07 - Local Department Responsibility to Kinship Caregivers

A local department shall:

A. Provide individualized case-by-case safety assessments consistent with facts and objective evidence; and apply legitimate requirements necessary to meet the physical, emotional, medical, or educational needs of the child in care that are not based on stereotypes or generalizations; and provide a reasonable modification of policies, practices, or procedures, or auxiliary aids or services to ensure an equal opportunity to be licensed as a kinship caregiver;

B. Help kinship caregivers understand their rights and responsibilities;

C. Consistent with Regulation .08A of this chapter, provide the kinship caregivers with all information that is available about the child in care and the reason the local department took the child into care;

D. Advise the kinship caregiver about medical requirements regarding children in care;

E. Provide the kinship caregiver with a health passport for each child in care placed in the home and determine the kinship caregiver's role in health care and educational decision-making;

F. Maintain regular contact with the kinship caregiver and the child in care;

G. Provide appropriate supportive services that will enable the kinship caregiver to meet the unique needs of the child in care;

H. Respond as soon as possible or provide appropriate crisis response contacts for crisis situations that may arise from the child's placement in the kinship resource home;

I. Upon placement, initiate a monthly care stipend for the kinship caregiver, explain the initial clothing allowance and how to obtain payment or reimbursement for allowable expenditures made to meet the needs of the child in care, including child care;

J. Inform the kinship caregiver of any requirements in the service plan that would directly affect a child in care;

K. Inform the kinship caregiver of the child in care's permanency plan, including family finding efforts, keep them updated as to the progress of that plan, and give the kinship caregiver the ability to provide input as to the plan;

L. Obtain the agreement of the kinship caregiver for any visitation plan that involves the use of the kinship caregiver's home or requires the kinship caregiver to transport the child in care, with attempts made to balance the kinship caregiver's right to privacy with the right of the parents or guardians to visit the child; and

M. Assist the kinship caregiver in preparation for the separation of the child from out-of-home care.

Md. Code Regs. 07.02.09.07

Regulation .07 adopted effective 51:24 Md. R. 1081, eff. 12/12/2024.