BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor                        2751

generally to Single Parent Services.

BY adding to

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

Section 111 through 113, inclusive, to be under the new

subtitle "Single Parent Services"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1969 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

SINGLE PARENT SERVICES

111.

(A) IT IS THE DECLARED POLICY OF THE STATE OF
MARYLAND THAT SINGLE PARENTS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A
COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES TO ENABLE THEM TO MAKE
SUITABLE PLANS FOR THE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND OF
THEMSELVES. OF SPECIAL CONCERN ARE THE YOUTH UNDER 18 YEARS
OF AGE WHO ARE PREGNANT, OR WHO ARE PARENTS OF CHILDREN FOR
WHOM THEY ARE UNPREPARED TO GIVE ADEQUATE CARE AND
PROTECTION. WHEN THE FAMILIES OF SINGLE PARENTS ARE
UNAVAILABLE, UNWILLING, OR UNABLE TO GIVE THEM NEEDED
FINANCIAL, MATERIAL, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, THEN TIMELY
SERVICES MUST BE PROVIDED BY THE STATE AS AN EFFECTIVE
ALTERNATIVE TO COSTLY, LONG-TERM FOSTER CARE, AND TO PREVENT
THE NEGLECT OR ABUSE OF CHILDREN.

(B) IT IS FURTHER DECLARED THAT THE STATE HAS A
CONTINUING INTEREST IN PREVENTION OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED
WITH TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND, TO THAT END, SINGLE YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO ARE AT RISK OF PARENTHOOD SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO
APPROPRIATE COUNSELING AND HEALTH SERVICES.

(C) TO IMPLEMENT THESE POLICIES, THE SECRETARY OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, WITH THE ADVICE OF THE
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, SHALL ESTABLISH A
PROGRAM OF SINGLE PARENT SERVICES IN ALL LOCAL DEPARTMENTS
OF SOCIAL SERVICES WHICH SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO SINGLE YOUTH
WHO ARE PREGNANT, AT RISK OF PARENTHOOD, OR WHO HAVE
CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE.

112.

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBTITLE, SINGLE PARENT
SERVICES ARE: COUNSELING ONE OR BOTH PARENTS; MAKING THE
PARENTS AWARE OF THE NEED FOR PRENATAL CARE; HELPING IN THE
DECISION ABOUT ADOPTION AND EXPLORING THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE
SEPARATED PARENT; HELPING PARENTS PREPARE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND
TRAINING; EXAMINING ALL ASPECTS OF MATERNAL, CHILD HEALTH,
AND FAMILY PLANNING AND MAKING REFERRALS TO HEALTH