1. A. Foster parent applicants shall be single individuals or couples who may be employed.
2. B. A prospective foster parent shall sign and date an application indicating a willingness to be a certified foster parent.

3. C. An appropriate agency employee shall conduct one or more documented application interviews with the applicant alone or in a group with other applicants. The interviews shall include a discussion of the following:

   1. (1) Definition and goals of foster care;
   2. (2) Differences between foster parenting and parenting one's own child or adopting a child;
   3. (3) Reasons children receive foster care services;
   4. (4) Characteristics of birth parents, their problems, needs, rights, and responsibilities;
   5. (5) Potential impact of foster care responsibilities on the applicant;
   6. (6) Requirements for foster care certification as described in Regulations .05—.12 of this chapter and in agency policy;
   7. (7) Agency's policy on discipline;
   8. (8) Applicant's assessment, with the agency, of the potential for foster parenthood;
   9. (9) Number and characteristics of foster children for whom the applicant is best suited;
   10. (10) Financial requirements of foster parents; and
   11. (11) Financial obligations of the agency to foster parents and foster children.

Authority: Human Services Article, §2-209, Annotated Code of Maryland
Agency Note: Federal Regulatory Reference: 42 U.S.C. §621 et seq.; 45 CFR 1355—1357

Effective date: January 12, 2001 (27:26 Md. R. 2357)

Regulation .02B amended effective February 2, 2026 (53:2 Md. R. 61)

Regulation .09C amended effective September 30, 2013 (40:19 Md. R. 1543)

Regulation .13A amended effective September 30, 2013 (40:19 Md. R. 1543); February 2, 2026 (53:2 Md. R. 61)

Regulation .14A amended effective September 30, 2013 (40:19 Md. R. 1543)

Regulation .15A, D amended effective September 30, 2013 (40:19 Md. R. 1543)

Regulation .17B amended effective September 30, 2013 (40:19 Md. R. 1543)