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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".13" citation="COMAR 07.02.11.13" title_num="07" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="11" heading="Case Planning for Permanency.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Within 60 days after removal, the local department, together with the child's parent or legal guardian, shall develop a written case plan for each child in out-of-home placement. The case plan shall include concurrent permanency plans, except as provided in §B of this regulation, and shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Describe the circumstances that make placement necessary;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>State with whom the child was living before placement and their relationship to the child; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Describe the efforts that were made but were unsuccessful in preventing or eliminating the need for removal from the child's home including the consideration of both in-State and out-of-State placement options, or why such efforts were not possible.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The local department shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Identify and develop a concurrent permanency plan, as appropriate;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Consider the following factors in determining that the concurrent permanency plan is in the best interests of the child:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Child's ability to be safe and healthy in the home of the child's parent or legal guardian;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Child's attachment and emotional ties to the child's siblings, parents, or legal guardian;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Child's emotional attachment to the child's current caregiver and the caregiver's family;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Length of time the child has resided with the current caregiver;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Potential emotional, developmental, and educational harm to the child if moved from the child's current placement; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Potential harm to the child by remaining in State custody for an excessive period of time;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Prioritize permanency plan options using the following order of preference:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Reunification with the parent or legal guardian;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Placement with a relative for adoption, or custody and guardianship;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Adoption by a non-relative;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Guardianship by a non-relative; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA);</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Project the year and month when the concurrent permanency plans shall be achieved;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Describe the specific service and behavioral objectives that shall be achieved before the return of the child to the parents or legal guardian if one of the concurrent permanency plans is reunification;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Identify the services to be provided to the parents, legal guardian, and the child in order to achieve the permanency goals;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Describe how the local department plans to carry out any voluntary placement agreement;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Include consideration of the least restrictive setting appropriate to the child's safety and care needs and when determining a permanency plan consider the following in descending order of priority:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The local jurisdiction where the child's parent or legal guardian resides; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Placement in another jurisdiction in the State, based on a compelling reason that it is in the best interest of the child because:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The child has strong ties to family, a placement resource, or other community resources in another jurisdiction in the State;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Necessary specialized services are not available to the child in the local jurisdiction but are available in another jurisdiction in the State; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>There are no placements available in the jurisdiction to meet the individualized special placement needs of the child;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Include the following considerations when it is necessary to place a child in another jurisdiction according to this regulation:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The availability of resources to provide necessary services to the child;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The accessibility to family treatment, if appropriate; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The effect on the local school system in the jurisdiction of consideration;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Describe the type of home or institution in which the child has been, or is to be, placed, and discuss the safety and appropriateness of the placement with documentation describing how the placement is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The least restrictive setting available; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>In close proximity to the parents' or legal guardian's home, consistent with the best interest and special needs of the child;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Discuss how the local department plans to carry out specific court orders, if any, pertaining to the child;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>Include a plan for ensuring that the child receives safe and appropriate care;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>Include a plan for working to ensure that services are provided to the child, parents or legal guardian, and resource parents to improve the conditions in the parents' or legal guardian's home and to facilitate the child’s return to his or her own safe home or other safe and appropriate permanent placement;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>Include a plan for working to ensure that services are provided to the child and foster parents to address the needs of the child while in foster care;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(15)">
      <text>Discuss the appropriateness of the services that have been provided to the child under the plan;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(16)">
      <text>For a child 14 years old or older, include a written description of the life skills training which will help the child prepare for independent living;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(17)">
      <text>To the extent available and accessible, include the most recent health and education records of the child, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The names and addresses of the child's health and educational providers;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The child's grade-level performance;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The child's school record;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Assurances that the child's placement in out-of-home placement takes into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Assurances that the child who is 5 years old or older:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Is enrolled, or in the process of enrolling, in a full-time elementary or secondary school program;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Has completed secondary school;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Is participating in, or scheduled to participate in, an independent study program administered by a local school district; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>If a child is incapable of attending school on a full-time basis due to a medical condition, the incapacity must be documented and regularly updated in the case plan;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>A record of the child's immunizations;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>The child's known medical problems;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>The child's medications; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Any other relevant health and education information required by Regulations .08 and .12 of this chapter; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(18)">
      <text>Deliver and document reunification services offered and time-limited reunification funds utilized.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The case plan shall be reassessed within 120 days of the initial plan, and every 180 days after that.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The local department shall amend the case plan, as necessary, in light of the child's situation and of any court orders which affect the child.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Within 60 days following placement and whenever the plan is amended, or upon request, the local department shall give a copy of the permanency plan and service agreement to the:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Child's parents or legal guardian; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Child or the child's attorney.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>The local department shall maintain a copy of the case plan and service agreement in the case record.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>