<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="5-1310" title_number="5" title_name="Children" subtitle_number="13" subtitle_name="Child Welfare Accountability">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Secretary and the Secretary of Budget and Management shall ensure that sufficient numbers of qualified child welfare staff, as specified in § 4–301 of the Human Services Article, are hired and  retained in order to achieve caseload ratios in child welfare services consistent with the Child Welfare League of America caseload standards.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Department, in consultation with an appropriate entity with expertise in child welfare services caseload ratios, shall develop a methodology to calculate caseload ratios in child welfare services for the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Department shall enter into a written contract with an entity that has expertise in child welfare services caseload ratios to annually review the calculation of caseload ratios used by the Department.</text>
  </level>
</section>
