Section 5-501 - Definitions. - Maryland Statutes

§ 5-501. Definitions.
 

(a)  In general.- In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 

(b)  Administration.- "Administration" means: 

(1) the Social Services Administration of the Department; or 

(2) any other unit within the Department to which the Secretary of Human Resources has delegated in writing specified responsibilities of the Administration under this subtitle. 

(c)  Child placement agency.- Repealed by Acts 2005, ch. 464, § 2, effective January 1, 2006. 

(d)  Day care provider.- "Day care provider" means the adult who has primary responsibility for the operation of a family day care home. 

(e)  Family day care.- "Family day care" means the care given to a child under the age of 13 years or to any developmentally disabled person under the age of 21 years, in place of parental care for less than 24 hours a day, in a residence other than the child's residence, for which the day care provider is paid. 

(f)  Family day care home.- "Family day care home" means a residence in which family day care is provided. 

(g)  Foster care.- "Foster care" means continuous 24-hour care and supportive services provided for a minor child placed by a child placement agency in an approved family home. 

(h)  Group care.- "Group care" means continuous 24-hour care and supportive services provided for a minor child placed in a licensed group facility. 

(i)  Kinship care.- "Kinship care" means continuous 24-hour care and supportive services provided for a minor child placed by a child placement agency in the home of a relative related by blood or marriage within the 5th degree of consanguinity or affinity under the civil law rule. 

(j)  License.-  

(1) "License" means a license issued by the Administration under this subtitle. 

(2) "License" includes: 

(i) a child placement agency license; 

(ii) a child care home license; 

(iii) a child care institution license; and 

(iv) a residential educational facility license. 

(k)  Local board.- "Local board" means a local citizen board of review for children in out-of-home care. 

(l)  Out-of-home care.- "Out-of-home care" means: 

(1) out-of-home placement; and 

(2) the monitoring of and services provided to a child in aftercare following a child's out-of-home placement. 

(m)  Out-of-home placement.- "Out-of-home placement" means placement of a child into foster care, kinship care, group care, or residential treatment care. 

(n)  Residential educational facility.- "Residential educational facility" means: 

(1) a facility that: 

(i) provides special education and related services for students with disabilities; 

(ii) holds a certificate of approval issued by the State Board of Education; and 

(iii) provides continuous 24-hour care and supportive services to children in a residential setting; or 

(2) one of the following schools: 

(i) the Benedictine School; 

(ii) the Linwood School; 

(iii) the Maryland School for the Blind; or 

(iv) the Maryland School for the Deaf. 

(o)  Residential treatment care.- "Residential treatment care" means continuous 24-hour care and supportive services for a minor child placed in a facility that provides formal programs of basic care, social work, and health care services. 

(p)  State Board.- "State Board" means the State Citizens Review Board for Children. 

(q)  Unregistered family day care home.- "Unregistered family day care home" means a residence in which family day care is provided and in which the day care provider: 

(1) has not obtained a certificate of registration from the Department; 

(2) is not related by blood or marriage to each child in the provider's care; 

(3) is not a friend of each child's parents or legal guardian and is providing care on a regular basis; and 

(4) has not received the care of the child from a child placement agency licensed by the Administration or by a local department. 

(r)  Voluntary placement agreement.- "Voluntary placement agreement" means a binding, written agreement voluntarily entered into between a local department and the parent or legal guardian of a minor child that specifies, at a minimum, the legal status of the child and the rights and obligations of the parent or legal guardian, the child, and the local department while the child is in placement. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 88A, §§ 32E, 114; 1984, ch. 296, § 2; 1988, ch. 456; 1989, ch. 514, § 2; 1991, ch. 341; 1992, ch. 302; 1998, ch. 539; 1999, chs. 539, 540; 2000, ch. 61, § 1; 2002, ch. 19, § 1; 2003, ch. 250; 2004, ch. 536; 2005, ch. 464, § 2; 2007, ch. 153; 2008, ch. 158; 2009, chs. 247, 248.]