HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2613

AN ACT concerning

Child Welfare Services - Foster Care

FOR the purpose of establishing child welfares services to
prevent the necessity of foster care placement, where
possible, reunite families and develop permanent plans
for children in foster care; establishing a program of
foster care in accordance with certain priorities;
requiring the Social Services Administration to
establish goals by regulation for reducing the
percentage of children who remain in foster care for
more than 2 years; and authorizing the Social Services
Administration to promulgate rules and regulations to
implement this Act.

BY adding to

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

Section 61, to be under the new subtitle "Child Welfare

Services - Foster Care. Program"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1979 Replacement Volume and 1981 Supplement)

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

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

CHILD WELFARE SERVICES - FOSTER
CARE PROGRAM

61.

(A) THE  SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION SHALL, TO THE

EXTENT THAT    FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATED IN THE BUDGET, PROVIDE

CHILD WELFARE  SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND PARENTS OR GUARDIANS
IN ORDER TO:

(1)  ASSIST IN PREVENTING THE NECESSITY OF
PLACING CHILDREN OUT OF THE HOME;

(2)  REUNIFY THE FAMILY IF THE CHILD HAS BEEN
PLACED IN FOSTER CARE; OR

(3)  DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN ALTERNATIVE
PERMANENT PLAN FOR THE CHILD IF THE CHILD HAS BEEN PLACED IN
FOSTER CARE AND CANNOT RETURN HOME.

(B) (1) THE SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION SHALL
ESTABLISH A PROGRAM OF FOSTER CARE FOR CHILDREN WHO: