<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 07.05.01.02" title_num="07" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="01" heading="Definitions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Terms Defined.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Administration” means the Social Services Administration of the Department of Human Services.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Agency” means a privately incorporated organization that is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Incorporated as a child placement agency; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Licensed by the Office of Licensing and Monitoring to receive children for placement into foster homes, treatment foster homes, adoptive homes, or independent living preparation arrangements.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Case plan” means a written description of the child's needs and the services to be provided to meet those needs.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Child" means an individual younger than 18 years old, except that a child already receiving care may continue to receive care until the end of the month in which the individual becomes 21 years old.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Child placement worker" means an individual employed by an agency in accordance with Regulation .14 of this chapter to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Perform intake services;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Provide casework, group work, or community organization services;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Plan and coordinate the services and resources affecting children before, during, and after the child is in foster or adoptive care;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Conduct home studies for adoptive and foster parents;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Provide therapeutic services required by the agency's type of license.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Criminal background check” means finger-print based record checks of the criminal history record information maintained by the State and the criminal history record information in national crime information databases.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“Full-time employee” means an agency employee who works for the agency at least 35 hours per week.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“Local department" means the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Department of social services in a county or Baltimore City; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Office of Licensing and Monitoring (OLM)” means the licensing authority for the Social Services Administration of the Maryland Department of Human Services.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Placing agency” means the agency, entity, or individual with the legal authority to place a child in an out-of-home placement.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>“Type of license” means the specific grant of authority an agency must have depending on whether it is providing private foster care placements, private adoptions, independent living programs, or treatment foster care placements.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>