# Family Law (GFL)

## Title 5. Children

### Subtitle 13. Child Welfare Accountability

#### Section 5-1305

The effectiveness of efforts to address permanency and stability in the living situations of children in the custody of a local department, or a placement agency, shall be measured by:

(1) the percentage of children who exit foster care within time periods consistent with federal national standards with a breakdown by each standard;

(2) the percentage of children with more than two out-of-home placements during a report year;

(3) the percentage of children in the custody of a local department, or a placement agency, who have siblings living in different placements;

(4) the percentage of children who exit foster care and are:

  (i) reunified with a parent or guardian;

  (ii) placed with a relative who is awarded custody and guardianship;

  (iii) adopted; or

  (iv) placed with a nonrelated guardian;

(5) the percentage of children in an out-of-home placement living in:

  (i) kinship care homes;

  (ii) restricted foster homes;

  (iii) regular foster homes;

  (iv) treatment foster homes;

  (v) group homes;

  (vi) residential treatment centers; and

  (vii) other specified types of placements;

(6) the number of foster homes and treatment foster homes available for children in the custody of a local department, or a placement agency;

(7) the percentage of foster homes and kinship care homes in which the following have been conducted according to regulation:

  (i) required criminal background checks;

  (ii) fire and safety inspections;

  (iii) health and safety checks;

  (iv) reconsiderations, as applicable; and

  (v) any other safety measures adopted by regulation;

(8) the number of children who are recommitted to the Department within 12 months of release from commitment to the Department; and

(9) any other indicators adopted by the Secretary under Sec. 5-1302 of this subtitle.

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Md. Code Ann., Fam. Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)