1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Abuse” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.11.03B.
   2. (2) “Acceptance date” means the day the local department determines that the family is in need of a specific service.
   3. (3) “Adjudication hearing” has the meaning stated in Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §3-801(b), Annotated Code of Maryland.
   4. (4) “Applicant” means an individual who applies for service under the program.
   5. (5) “Child” has the meaning stated in COMAR 07.02.11.03B.
   6. (6) “Child In Need of Assistance (CINA)” has the meaning stated in Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §3-801(e), Annotated Code of Maryland.
   7. (7) “Client Information System (CIS)” means the automated electronic system that maintains data related to services provided by the local department.
   8. (8) “Custody and guardianship” means court-assigned physical custody, authority, and responsibility for a child for the purpose of providing for the child's physical, social, and emotional needs.
   9. (9) “Department” means the Department of Human Services.

   10. (10) “Family” means:

       1. (a) One or more parents and children related by blood, marriage, or adoption, and residing in the same household; or
       2. (b) A parent substitute, such as a related or unrelated caregiver or legal guardian, who has responsibility for the 24-hour care and supervision of a child.
   11. (11) “Family Support Services—Central Intake” means the centralized services that provide services to families with minor children living in Baltimore City who request those services.
   12. (12) “Family Support Services (FSS)” means supportive services provided to families with minor children living within the Family Investment Centers catchment areas in Baltimore City.
   13. (13) “Flex funds” means those discretionary funds available to a local department in each of the In-Home Family Services programs to purchase goods and services to support a family's service plan when no other resource is available.
   14. (14) “Foster care” has the meaning stated in COMAR 07.02.11.03B.
   15. (15) “Imminent risk of out-of-home placement” means that individual who, without specific and timely intervention, will need to be placed in a setting outside of the primary living situation.
   16. (16) “Income eligibility requirement” means that a family's monthly gross income does not exceed 80 percent of the State's median income, adjusted for family size, according to Schedule A under COMAR 07.02.04.11.
   17. (17) “Indicated” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.07.
   18. (18) “Intensive Family Services (IFS)” means a highly intensive short-term program for children who are at risk of being removed from their homes, which is provided by a team consisting of a social worker and a case associate.
   19. (19) “Local department” means the local department of social services in a county or Baltimore City, or the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
   20. (20) “Maltreatment” means any type of child abuse or child neglect as defined in COMAR 07.02.07.02.
   21. (21) “Mental injury” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.07.
   22. (22) “Neglect” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.07.
   23. (23) “Out-of-home placement” means the removal of a child from the child's primary home by a representative of the local department for placement in foster care or kinship care.

   24. (24) “Order of protective supervision” means an order by a court exercising juvenile jurisdiction:

       1. (a) Directing the local department to assure that a remedial program is carried out; and
       2. (b) Authorizing supervision of the child in the child's own home.
   25. (25) “Preplacement prevention service” means those services offered to a family in order to reduce or eliminate the need to place a child in foster care.
   26. (26) “Record” means the original or a copy of any documentary material, including referral information, formal and informal assessments, recommendations, and closing material, while a family is receiving a particular service within a local department.
   27. (27) “Ruled out” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.07.
   28. (28) “Return home” has the meaning stated in COMAR 07.02.11.03B.
   29. (29) “Reunification” has the meaning stated in COMAR 07.02.11.03B.
   30. (30) “Services to Families with Children—Continuing (SFC-C)” means a means test-based program where a family has been assessed by SFC-I and is in need of more extensive service to work toward the efforts of safety, stability, and health of the family.
   31. (31) “Services to Families with Children—Central Intake (SFC-I)” means a short-term assessment service for families that are identified as in crisis and at risk of their home dissolving.
   32. (32) “SSA” means the Social Services Administration of the Department of Human Services.
   33. (33) “Supportive services” means purchased, provided, or referred assistance to clients that are being served by In-Home Family Services.
   34. (34) “Unsubstantiated” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.07.
   35. (35) “Voluntary placement” means the temporary placement of a child outside of the primary home by the parent or primary caretaker, in which child and family shall meet the criteria for voluntary placement in COMAR 07.02.11.06.
   36. (36) “Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA)” means a bonding written agreement between the local department and the parent or guardian.

Authority: Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §§3-801—3-820; Family Law Article, §§5-524, 5-525, 5-704, 5-709—5-713; Annotated Code of Maryland
Agency Note: Federal Regulatory Reference: 42 U.S.C. §620 et seq.; 45 CFR 1355—1357

Effective date: May 4, 1979 (6:9 Md. R. 726)

Regulations .06E and .07 amended effective October 6, 1986 (13:20 Md. R. 2207)

Regulations .01—.09 repealed and new Regulations .01—.07 adopted effective January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2787)

Regulations .01—.07 repealed and new Regulations .01—.11 adopted effective September 2, 2002 (29:17 Md. R. 1377)

Regulation .10C amended effective May 1, 2023 (50:8 Md. R. 337)