Md. Code Regs. 07.02.09.09

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

Section 07.02.09.09 - Responsibilities of a Kinship Caregiver

A. Responsibilities to a Child in Care. A kinship caregiver shall:

(1) Participate in the child in care's physical health, mental health, and dental health care, including documenting every healthcare visit in the child in care's health passport and advising the child in care's worker;

(2) Participate in the child in care's educational process;

(3) Provide supervision and guidance appropriate to the child in care's age and developmental level;

(4) Provide daily essentials that are required for the health, comfort, and personal care of a child in care;

(5) Help the child in care cope with any anxiety of being away from the child in care's family or guardians and promote the child in care's self-esteem and positive self-image;

(6) Respect the child in care and the child in care's family and kin;

(7) Whenever possible engage and partner with the child in care's family and kin;

(8) Be sensitive to and respect the child in care's individual needs, tastes, and values, and support the child in care's religious beliefs, cultural customs, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression;

(9) Involve the child in care in family activities;

(10) Establish clear expectations for and limits on behavior;

(11) Provide or arrange transportation to appointments, extracurricular activities, employment, social, and cultural events;

(12) Support the child in care in understanding their permanency plan and any move from the kinship resource home;

(13) Provide an environment free from exposure to secondhand smoke for children in care; and

(14) Protect confidential information regarding a child in care and their family.

B. Responsibilities to a Child in Care's Family. A kinship caregiver shall:

(1) Assist the local department in maintaining and improving the child in care's relationship with the child in care's family and support this relationship by helping with family visits, which may include visits in the kinship resource home;

(2) Maintain an attitude of respect and understanding towards the child in care's parents or legal guardians;

(3) Provide regular updates and information about the child in care's life; and

(4) Serve as a role model for the child in care's parents or legal guardians.

C. Responsibilities to the Local Department. A kinship caregiver shall:

(1) Work as a team member in assessing a child in care's strengths and needs, and implementing the child in care's case plan;

(2) Update the local department on the child in care's development and adjustment;

(3) Attend case reviews and meetings as requested by the local department;

(4) Immediately notify the local department of changes within the kinship caregiver's family, such as:

(a) Employment and child care arrangements;

(b) Composition of the household;

(c) Address, telephone number, and email address;

(d) Health status; and

(e) Stressful conditions that may affect the child in care.

(5) Provide at least 30 days notice when requesting a child in care be moved except in circumstances that immediately affect the child in care or resource family's health or safety;

(6) Report any suspected incidence of child physical or sexual abuse or neglect to the local department as soon as the incident becomes known to the kinship caregiver;

(7) Notify the local department if a child in care runs away or otherwise cannot be located; and

(8) Notify the local department of any criminal charges, investigations, or findings related to any crime committed by a household member, as identified in Regulation .03B of this chapter.

Md. Code Regs. 07.02.09.09

Regulation .09 adopted effective 51:24 Md. R. 1081, eff. 12/12/2024.