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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".09" citation="COMAR 07.02.09.09" title_num="07" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="09" heading="Responsibilities of a Kinship Caregiver.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Responsibilities to a Child in Care. A kinship caregiver shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Participate in the child in care’s physical health, mental health, and dental health care, including documenting every healthcare visit in the child in care’s health passport and advising the child in care’s worker;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Participate in the child in care's educational process;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Provide supervision and guidance appropriate to the child in care’s age and developmental level;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Provide daily essentials that are required for the health, comfort, and personal care of a child in care;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Help the child in care cope with any anxiety of being away from the child in care’s family or guardians and promote the child in care's self-esteem and positive self-image;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Respect the child in care and the child in care's family and kin;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Whenever possible engage and partner with the child in care’s family and kin;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Be sensitive to and respect the child in care's individual needs, tastes, and values, and support the child in care's religious beliefs, cultural customs, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Involve the child in care in family activities;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Establish clear expectations for and limits on behavior;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Provide or arrange transportation to appointments, extracurricular activities, employment, social, and cultural events;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>Support the child in care in understanding their permanency plan and any move from the kinship resource home;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>Provide an environment free from exposure to secondhand smoke for children in care; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>Protect confidential information regarding a child in care and their family.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Responsibilities to a Child in Care's Family. A kinship caregiver shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Assist the local department in maintaining and improving the child in care's relationship with the child in care’s family and support this relationship by helping with family visits, which may include visits in the kinship resource home;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Maintain an attitude of respect and understanding towards the child in care’s parents or legal guardians;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Provide regular updates and information about the child in care's life; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Serve as a role model for the child in care’s parents or legal guardians.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Responsibilities to the Local Department. A kinship caregiver shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Work as a team member in assessing a child in care's strengths and needs, and implementing the child in care's case plan;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Update the local department on the child in care's development and adjustment;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Attend case reviews and meetings as requested by the local department;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Immediately notify the local department of changes within the kinship caregiver’s family, such as:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Employment and child care arrangements;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Composition of the household;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Address, telephone number, and email address;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Health status; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Stressful conditions that may affect the child in care.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Provide at least 30 days notice when requesting a child in care be moved except in circumstances that immediately affect the child in care or resource family’s health or safety;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Report any suspected incidence of child physical or sexual abuse or neglect to the local department as soon as the incident becomes known to the kinship caregiver;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Notify the local department if a child in care runs away or otherwise cannot be located; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Notify the local department of any criminal charges, investigations, or findings related to any crime committed by a household member, as identified in Regulation .03B of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>