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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 07.02.29.02" title_num="07" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="29" 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>“Case plan” has the meaning stated in COMAR 07.02.11.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Child” means an individual:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Younger than 18 years old; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>18 to 21 years old if the court retains jurisdiction over the child and the child meets the eligibility requirements established in COMAR 07.02.11.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Court” means the circuit court for a county or Baltimore City sitting as a juvenile court.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Guardianship” means that a court has granted physical and legal custody that includes legal authority, and responsibility for a child, to an individual to provide for a child’s needs.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Guardianship assistance agreement” means the written and binding agreement between the local department of social services and the relative caregiver.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Guardianship Assistance Program” means a program whereby the State, under qualifying circumstances, contributes financial assistance and medical assistance to help in the care of a child.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“Kinship care” means continuous 24-hour care and supportive services provided for a minor child placed by a child placement agency in the home of a relative related by blood or marriage within the fifth degree of consanguinity or affinity as set forth in the Estates and Trusts Article, §1-203, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“Local department” means a local department of social services in a county or Baltimore City, and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Parent” means the birth or adoptive mother or father of the child and includes by reference both mother and father as applicable.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Regular care rate” means the rate paid for all children in foster care who require routine care and supervision.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>“Relative” means an adult who is at least 18 years old, and who is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Related by blood, marriage or adoption within the fifth degree of consanguinity or affinity as set forth in the Estates and Trusts Article, §1-203, Annotated Code of Maryland; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An individual who makes up the family support system, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Adults related beyond the fifth degree of consanguinity or affinity;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Godparents;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Friends of the family; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Other adults who have a strong familial bond with the child.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>“Relative caregiver” means a relative, or relatives as is applicable, of a child who is in the care, custody, or guardianship of a local department and who has been designated by the local department as a temporary 24-hour caregiver of that child.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>“Relative guardian” means a relative caregiver whom the court has designated as guardian.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>“Resource home” means an individual or family approved by a local department as described in COMAR 07.02.25.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(15)">
      <text>“Sibling” means a child that shares at least one parent with another child through blood relation, adoption or marriage of a parent.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(16)">
      <text>“Voluntary placement” means the placement of a child into foster care voluntarily by the parent or legal guardian who is unable to care for the child, and is either time-limited or for children with disabilities as defined in COMAR 07.02.11.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(17)">
      <text>“Youth” means a child 14 to 21 years old who is still in the custody of the State.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>