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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 07.02.01.02" title_num="07" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="01" heading="Definitions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Terms Defined.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Abuse” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.11.03B.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Acceptance date” means the day the local department determines that the family is in need of a specific service.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Adjudication hearing” has the meaning stated in Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §3-801(b), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Applicant” means an individual who applies for service under the program.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Child” has the meaning stated in COMAR 07.02.11.03B.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Child In Need of Assistance (CINA)” has the meaning stated in Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §3-801(e), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“Client Information System (CIS)” means the automated electronic system that maintains data related to services provided by the local department.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“Custody and guardianship” means court-assigned physical custody, authority, and responsibility for a child for the purpose of providing for the child's physical, social, and emotional needs.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Department” means the Department of Human Services.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Family” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>One or more parents and children related by blood, marriage, or adoption, and residing in the same household; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A parent substitute, such as a related or unrelated caregiver or legal guardian, who has responsibility for the 24-hour care and supervision of a child.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>“Family Support Services—Central Intake” means the centralized services that provide services to families with minor children living in Baltimore City who request those services.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>“Family Support Services (FSS)” means supportive services provided to families with minor children living within the Family Investment Centers catchment areas in Baltimore City.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>“Flex funds” means those discretionary funds available to a local department in each of the In-Home Family Services programs to purchase goods and services to support a family's service plan when no other resource is available.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>“Foster care” has the meaning stated in COMAR 07.02.11.03B.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(15)">
      <text>“Imminent risk of out-of-home placement” means that individual who, without specific and timely intervention, will need to be placed in a setting outside of the primary living situation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(16)">
      <text>“Income eligibility requirement” means that a family's monthly gross income does not exceed 80 percent of the State's median income, adjusted for family size, according to Schedule A under COMAR 07.02.04.11.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(17)">
      <text>“Indicated” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.07.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(18)">
      <text>“Intensive Family Services (IFS)” means a highly intensive short-term program for children who are at risk of being removed from their homes, which is provided by a team consisting of a social worker and a case associate.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(19)">
      <text>“Local department” means the local department of social services in a county or Baltimore City, or the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(20)">
      <text>“Maltreatment” means any type of child abuse or child neglect as defined in COMAR 07.02.07.02.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(21)">
      <text>“Mental injury” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.07.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(22)">
      <text>“Neglect” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.07.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(23)">
      <text>“Out-of-home placement” means the removal of a child from the child's primary home by a representative of the local department for placement in foster care or kinship care.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(24)">
      <text>“Order of protective supervision” means an order by a court exercising juvenile jurisdiction:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Directing the local department to assure that a remedial program is carried out; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Authorizing supervision of the child in the child's own home.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(25)">
      <text>“Preplacement prevention service” means those services offered to a family in order to reduce or eliminate the need to place a child in foster care.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(26)">
      <text>“Record” means the original or a copy of any documentary material, including referral information, formal and informal assessments, recommendations, and closing material, while a family is receiving a particular service within a local department.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(27)">
      <text>“Ruled out” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.07.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(28)">
      <text>“Return home” has the meaning stated in COMAR 07.02.11.03B.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(29)">
      <text>“Reunification” has the meaning stated in COMAR 07.02.11.03B.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(30)">
      <text>“Services to Families with Children—Continuing (SFC-C)” means a means test-based program where a family has been assessed by SFC-I and is in need of more extensive service to work toward the efforts of safety, stability, and health of the family.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(31)">
      <text>“Services to Families with Children—Central Intake (SFC-I)” means a short-term assessment service for families that are identified as in crisis and at risk of their home dissolving.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(32)">
      <text>“SSA” means the Social Services Administration of the Department of Human Services.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(33)">
      <text>“Supportive services” means purchased, provided, or referred assistance to clients that are being served by In-Home Family Services.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(34)">
      <text>“Unsubstantiated” has the meaning stated in Family Law Article, §5-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 07.02.07.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(35)">
      <text>“Voluntary placement” means the temporary placement of a child outside of the primary home by the parent or primary caretaker, in which child and family shall meet the criteria for voluntary placement in COMAR 07.02.11.06.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(36)">
      <text>“Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA)” means a bonding written agreement between the local department and the parent or guardian.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>