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.