Section 5-501 - Definitions.
§ 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(c) Child placement agency.- Repealed by Acts 2005, ch. 464, § 2, effective January 1, 2006.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.]