In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Cooperating department” means a unit of the State government responsible for out–of–home placement of children. “Cooperating department” includes: the Department of Juvenile Services; and the Department of Human Services. “Direct care staff” means staff assigned to perform direct responsibilities related to activities of daily living, self–help, and socialization skills of children in a residential child care program. “Out–of–home placement” means: the removal of a child from the child’s family; and the placement of the child by a cooperating department or court in a public or private residential child care program, a residential program operated by or under contract with the Department of Juvenile Services, a foster care home approved by a local department of social services, or a treatment foster care home for more than 30 days. “System for outcomes evaluation” means an objective and standardized method of measuring the effectiveness of the programs described in subsection (d)(2) of this section.

This subtitle does not apply to: a shelter care facility or residential respite program licensed by the Department of Human Services; or a detention center or shelter care facility operated by or under contract with the Department of Juvenile Services.

On or before July 1, 2008, the Office and the cooperating departments shall develop, coordinate, and implement a system for outcomes evaluation. The system for outcomes evaluation shall be used to: monitor the care, supervision, education, and treatment provided by State–operated and State–supported programs described in § 8–1001(d)(2) of this subtitle so that successful services can be expanded and services that do not produce positive results can be identified; establish an evaluation system for program performance, including measures of safety, quality, and effectiveness; and complete an assessment of the capacity of the programs described in § 8–1001(d)(2) of this subtitle in the State that identifies programs in each community to serve the needs of a family that resides in the community. The system for outcomes evaluation shall use standardized measures of function to evaluate the child’s: protection from harm while in out–of–home placement; stability of living environment; family situation and efforts to treat and counsel the family unit; educational and vocational development; job skills and employment readiness; legal and appropriate use of drugs and alcohol; progress in learning positive, nonaggressive behavioral habits; and delinquency status. The system for outcomes evaluation shall ensure that collection and use of data in the system maintains confidentiality of information on the children from the cooperating departments. The system for outcomes evaluation shall ensure that a cooperating department shall: facilitate the participation of programs described in § 8–1001(d)(2) of this subtitle operated by the cooperating department or private agencies with which the cooperating department has a contract for the placement of children in out–of–home care; and include in the cooperating department’s contract with a private program provisions requiring the program to collect and report to the cooperating department: child–specific demographic information; and data necessary to evaluate changes in functioning of the child as provided in subsection (c) of this section. When reporting demographic information and data under subsection (e) of this section, a cooperating department: may not disclose personal identifiers; and shall ensure the confidentiality of the information about the children under its responsibility. On or before October 1 of each year, the Department of Human Services, in coordination with the other cooperating departments, shall submit a report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the progress of implementing the system for outcomes evaluation.