3212

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 514

2.  THE CONDITIONS WHICH LED TO THE
SEPARATION STILL PERSIST, OR SIMILAR CONDITIONS OF A
POTENTIALLY HARMFUL NATURE CONTINUE TO EXIST;

3.  THERE IS LITTLE LIKELIHOOD THAT
THOSE CONDITIONS WILL BE REMEDIED AT AN EARLY DATE IN ORDER
THAT THE CHILD CAN BE RETURNED TO THE PARENT IN THE
IMMEDIATE FUTURE; AND

4.  THE CONTINUATION OF THE
PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP GREATLY DIMINISHES THE CHILD'S
PROSPECTS FOR EARLY INTEGRATION INTO A STABLE AND PERMANENT
FAMILY.

(II) IN DETERMINING WHETHER TERMINATION OF
NATURAL PARENTS' RIGHTS IS IN THE CHILD'S BEST INTEREST IN
THIS CASE, THE COURT SHALL FURTHER CONSIDER THE FACTORS IN
SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION.

(B) IN DETERMINING WHETHER NATURAL PARENTS' RIGHTS
SHOULD BE TERMINATED UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(2) OR (A)(3) OF
THIS SECTION, THE COURT SHALL CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

(1)  THE TIMELINESS, NATURE, AND EXTENT OF
SERVICES OFFERED OR PROVIDED BY THE CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCY
TO FACILITATE REUNION OF THE CHILD WITH THE PARENT;

(2)  THE TERMS OF ANY SOCIAL SERVICE AGREEMENT
AGREED TO BY THE CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCY AND THE PARENT, AND
THE EXTENT TO WHICH ALL PARTIES HAVE FULFILLED THEIR
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE AGREEMENT;

(3)  THE CHILD'S FEELINGS TOWARD AND EMOTIONAL
TIES WITH THE CHILD'S PARENTS, SIBLINGS, AND ANY OTHER
PERSON. WHO MAY SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE CHILD'S BEST
INTEREST;

(4)  THE CHILD'S ADJUSTMENT TO HOME, SCHOOL, AND
COMMUNITY; AND

(5)  THE EFFORT THE PARENT HAS MADE TO ADJUST THE
PARENT'S CIRCUMSTANCES, CONDUCT, OR CONDITIONS TO MAKE IT IN
THE CHILD'S BEST INTEREST TO BE RETURNED TO THE PARENT'S
HOME, INCLUDING:

(I)  THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PARENT HAS
MAINTAINED REGULAR VISITATION OR OTHER CONTACT' WITH THE
CHILD AS PART OF A PLAN TO REUNITE THE CHILD WITH THE
PARENT, ALTHOUGH THE COURT MAY NOT ATTACH SIGNIFICANT
WEIGHT TO INCIDENTAL VISITATION, COMMUNICATIONS, OR
CONTRIBUTIONS;

(II)  THE PAYMENT OF A REASONABLE PORTION
OF SUBSTITUTE PHYSICAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE IF FINANCIALLY
ABLE TO DO SO;