<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 07.05.03.05" title_num="07" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="03" heading="Adoption Services for the Child.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Adoption services are available to any child:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Whose parent voluntarily relinquishes the child for adoption;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Whose parent is considering separation from a child because of the parent's inability to provide parental responsibilities;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>For whom the agency considers permanent planning through adoption is in the best interest of the child;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>For whom another service or agency has referred the child for adoption planning; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Who was adopted or freed for adoption in a foreign country and is now living in Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Adoption services for a child may be requested by the:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Parent;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Agency having legal authority by court action;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Court, agency, or other organization established by a foreign country's law or policy; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Child who is 10 years old or older.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>When an agency receives an application for adoption services on behalf of a child, the agency shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Determine the needs of the family and child; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Decide the appropriate service.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>During the process of determining or implementing a case plan, a child accepted for adoption service may be placed in:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Preadoptive foster care;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A legal risk placement; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A residential facility licensed or approved by the Administration.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Adoption Service Agency's Responsibilities in Preadoptive Foster Family Care.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The agency shall have immediately available, through agency certification or formal contract with another Maryland-licensed child placement agency, certified foster parents capable of providing temporary preadoptive certified foster care for a child for whom the plan is adoption, but for whom an adoption placement is not yet available.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The agency shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Provide or arrange for the child's appropriate physical care, emotional security, and intellectual stimulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Observe and document the child's developmental progress; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Utilize information in the child's record to select a suitable adoptive parent for the child.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Preparation for Adoption Placement.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The agency shall proceed to terminate parental rights and obtain guardianship of the child by filing the petition according to Maryland Rules of Procedure, Chapter 1100, Subtitle D, and Family Law Article, §§5-301—5- 330, Annotated Code of Maryland, within 2 weeks of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Obtaining the voluntary relinquishment of the child; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Completing efforts without success to locate the parents.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The agency holding guardianship shall, according to the provisions of Family Law Article, §5-319, Annotated Code of Maryland, notify the court and the parents of the plan to terminate parental rights.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A consent to guardianship is valid if it contains written notice of the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Parent's right to withdraw consent as described in Family Law Article, §5-311(c)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Parent's and adoptee's search rights as described in Family Law Article, Title 5, Subtitles 3A and 4B, Annotated Code of Maryland; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Parent's right to file a disclosure veto as described in Family Law Article, §5-3A-05(a), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>When guardianship is obtained, the agency shall immediately proceed with adoptive placement plans in the following manner:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>If an adoptive parent is selected for the child:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Place the child with the adoptive parent,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Provide post-placement services, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Proceed to petition the court to finalize the adoption;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If the child was in a legal risk placement for 6 months or longer and the adoptive parent is still the parent of choice, petition the court to finalize the adoption;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>If the child is bonded to foster parents who have applied to adopt the child, met the requirements of this regulation, and determined by the agency that the foster parents' adoption of the child is in the child's best interest, petition the court to finalize the adoption; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>If an adoptive parent is not available:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Attempt to recruit a home for the child, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Within 30 days register the child with MARE and other appropriate exchanges.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>The agency shall maintain the following records to document services to the child:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A face sheet with information needed in an emergency, including the child's:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Name;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Birth date and place;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Names of parents;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Guardianship status;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Pertinent medical information;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Placement address; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Social Security number; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>To the extent possible, the following information on the child:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Intake study and recommendation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Birth records;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Medical records, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Financial responsibility for medical care;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Medical record at birth;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Development history;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Pre-placement physical;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Medical recommendations;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Immunizations and inoculations;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>Continuing medical and developmental history; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>Dental records;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Race, religion, and pertinent ethnic or cultural information;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>If the child is 10 years old or older, child's written consent;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Guardianship information, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Date of decree,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Docket number, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Copy of the guardianship decree;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>If the child was in a foster care placement, the child's foster care record as required by COMAR 07.05.02.18D; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>If the child is attending school, the child's educational history.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>