Md. Code Regs. 07.02.11.18

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 25, December 13, 2024

Section 07.02.11.18 - Procedures in Response to Runaway Children or a Child Abduction

A. When the local department is informed that a out-of-home placement child is missing, abducted, or has not returned home at a prearranged time, the local department caseworker shall:

(1) Notify the:

(a) Local law enforcement and obtain a complaint number;

(b) Parents or legal guardian and their attorney unless guardianship is granted to the local department;

(c) CINA attorney for the child; and

(d) The local department's attorney;

(2) Compile information on the child's last known whereabouts and activities;

(3) Contact and speak with any person who may have relevant information, including:

(a) Relatives;

(b) Friends;

(c) School personnel;

(d) Persons at the child's place of employment, if applicable;

(e) Persons in the child's neighborhood of origin;

(f) Persons in the out-of-home placement neighborhood;

(4) Consult with the local law enforcement regarding the procedure to be followed to return the child and whether the local department or local law enforcement will pick up the child;

(5) Develop a plan for the child's placement upon return;

(6) Document the child's runaway or missing status with a begin and end date in the child's whereabouts section on the case plan;

(7) Document weekly search efforts to locate the child on the contact sheets in the case record;

(8) Keep the parents, legal guardian, placement provider, and attorneys updated weekly on the status of the search for the child;

(9) Maintain weekly contact with local law enforcement regarding the search status for the child; and

(10) If the caseworker has information that the runaway or abducted child has been located in another state, the caseworker shall contact the Compact Administrator for the Interstate Compact on Juveniles at the Department of Juvenile Services for assistance in returning the child.

B. Hold of Child's Placement.

(1) The caseworker shall contact the current placement provider to determine if the provider is willing to hold the child's placement.

(2) If the placement provider is willing to hold the placement:

(a) Payment of the board rate may be made for up to 30 days;

(b) No difficulty of care stipend payment may be made for the period the child is on runaway or missing from the placement; and

(c) If the child fails to return within 30 days, the provider cannot be paid beyond the 30-day time limit.

(3) If the placement provider will not hold the child's placement or the 30-day time period has expired, the caseworker shall:

(a) Contact the financial unit to stop the foster care payment for the child; and

(b) Conduct a new placement search for the child.

C. When the child is located:

(1) The local department with jurisdiction over the child is responsible for:

(a) Ensuring that the child has transportation to the local department;

(b) Assisting local law enforcement or other responsible party with transportation of the child to a placement if found within the local department's jurisdiction; and

(c) Retrieving the child if found in another jurisdiction or state;

(2) The parents or legal guardian, placement provider, and attorneys shall be notified that the child has been found;

(3) The local department shall call local law enforcement in the placement jurisdiction to escort the child to the placement if the child refuses placement;

(4) The caseworker shall interview the child regarding the reasons for running away, if applicable, and record the discussion on the contact sheet; and

(5) The local department shall obtain a physical examination of the child, and appropriate follow-up medical care for the child.

Md. Code Regs. 07.02.11.18

Regulations .18 adopted as an emergency provision effective July 17, 1990 (17:16 Md. R. 1984); adopted permanently effective December 24, 1990 (17:25 Md. R. 2904)