<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".11" citation="COMAR 07.05.03.11" title_num="07" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="03" heading="Home Study.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The home study is an educational and evaluative process which takes place between the applicant and the agency and is designed to assess the applicant's ability to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Understand the unique issues and challenges of adoptive parenting; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Meet the needs of an adopted child.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The agency child placement worker shall initiate a home study after:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Receipt of the completed application; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Approval by the agency's chief administrator or designee.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Home Study Process.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The agency's child placement worker, in consultation with the child placement worker's supervisor, shall conduct, write, sign, and date the home study.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The home study shall consist of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>At least two interviews with the applicant, both individually and together when two individuals apply together, with at least one of the interviews conducted in the applicant's home; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Additional individually conducted interviews with each:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Child 10 years old or older who lives in the home; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Adult member of the household.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The agency may use informational or orientation meetings or training sessions to complete the home study process.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The agency shall complete the home study within 90 days of receipt of the completed, signed application unless the applicant consented in writing for the agency to extend the completion date no longer than 150 days.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>If the agency is unable to complete the home study before the agreed-upon time limit, the agency shall inform the Administration and the applicant in writing of the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Reason the agency is unable to complete the home study;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Opportunity for the applicant to reapply;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Explanation of any additional required fees from the applicant; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Fee reimbursement to the applicant, if applicable.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The home study record shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Be written by the child placement worker;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Include the child placement worker's professional judgments based on:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Observed behavior of the applicant;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Statements of the applicant; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Data gathered from application material;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Include documentation of the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>All items described in Regulation .09B of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The following completed documentation:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Verified State and federal criminal background check;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Verified report of sanitation inspection by the local health department or a State-licensed sanitarian; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Verified local fire department report or statement;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Mental health reports and clearances if indicated; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Dates and location of contacts by the agency child placement worker with the applicant;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Include the following topics which the child placement worker discussed with the applicant:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The applicant's motivation to adopt;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The applicant's feelings about:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Childhood years,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Parental relationships,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Sibling relationships,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Social relationships, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>If applicable, marital and in-law relationships, former marriages, children, and child support obligations;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The applicant's reaction to life-changing experiences, and ability to cope with change;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The applicant's reaction to emotional stress;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The impact of infertility on the applicant, if appropriate;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>The applicant's special interests and activities, including domesticated pets and use of firearms for sporting purposes;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>The impact of the applicant's religion or life philosophy on the applicant and adopted children;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>The applicant's employment and financial circumstances;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>The applicant's formal educational experiences;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>The applicant's knowledge of and experience in parenting;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(k)">
        <text>The applicant's attitudes toward:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Children,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Discipline,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Child rearing, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Changed interpersonal dynamics resulting from the adoption;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(l)">
        <text>The applicant's attitudes toward adoption, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Expectations of a child,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Dealing with a child already in the household regarding adoption,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The search for a child,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>The possibility of the adoptee's future need to search for the birth parents,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>The possibility of dealing with the adopted child's parent,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>The potential impact of adoption search services, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>The impact on the child's physical and mental health if the child was deprived, abused, or neglected before adoption;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(m)">
        <text>The legal designation of an identified adult to assume responsibility for the care and custody of the child in case of the death or incapacitation of the adoptive parent;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(n)">
        <text>The type of child the applicant could adopt, including a child's:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Age range,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Special needs,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>General background, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Race, national origin, or both;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(o)">
        <text>The potential availability of financial resources, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>State subsidy,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>State reimbursement for nonrecurring adoption expenses, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Any agency or other private funding; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(p)">
        <text>The home and community, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Physical environment of the home;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Child care plans if needed; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Attitudes of relatives, friends, and neighbors toward adoption.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>