Ch. 546

1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(2) "KINSHIP CARE" MEANS THE CARE GIVEN TO A CHILD WHEN THAT
CHILD IS PLACED IN THE HOME OF A RELATIVE.

(3) "KINSHIP PARENT" IS THE RELATIVE WITH WHOM A CHILD IN THE
CARE, CUSTODY, OR GUARDIANSHIP OF THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT IS PLACED FOR
TEMPORARY OR LONG TERM CARE OTHER THAN ADOPTION.

(4) "RELATIVE" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL RELATED BY BLOOD OR
MARRIAGE WITHIN FOUR DEGREES OF CONSANGUINITY OR AFFINITY UNDER THE
CIVIL LAW RULE, "KINSHIP PARENT" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS RELATED BY
BLOOD OR MARRIAGE WITHIN FOUR DEGREES OF CONSANGUINITY OR AFFINITY
UNDER THE CIVIL LAW RULE TO A CHILD WHO IS IN THE CARE, CUSTODY, OR
GUARDIANSHIP OF THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT AND WITH WHOM THE CHILD IS
PLACED FOR TEMPORARY OR LONG-TERM CARE OTHER THAN ADOPTION.

(B)     THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ESTABLISH A KINSHIP CARE PROGRAM.

(C)     (1) IN SELECTING A PLACEMENT THAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF A
CHILD IN NEED OF OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT, THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT SHALL,
AS A FIRST PRIORITY, ATTEMPT TO PLACE THE CHILD WITH A RELATIVE KINSHIP
PARENT.

(2)      THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT SHALL EXHAUST ALL REASONABLE
RESOURCES TO LOCATE A RELATIVE KINSHIP PARENT FOR INITIAL PLACEMENT OF
THE CHILD.

(3)      IF NO RELATIVE KINSHIP PARENT IS LOCATED AT THE TIME OF THE
INITIAL PLACEMENT, THE CHILD SHALL BE PLACED IN A NONRELATIVE FOSTER
CARE SETTING.

(4)      IF A RELATIVE KINSHIP PARENT IS LOCATED SUBSEQUENT TO THE
PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A NONRELATIVE FOSTER CARE SETTING, THE LOCAL
DEPARTMENT MAY, IF IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD, PLACE THE CHILD
WITH THE RELATIVE KINSHIP PARENT.

(D) (1) A KINSHIP FOSTER PARENT IS SUBJECT TO THE SAME REQUIREMENTS
SET OUT UNDER PART III OF THIS SUBTITLE AND THE REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY
THE DEPARTMENT.

(2) ANY PLACEMENT UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE IN THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE CHILD.

(E)     IF A KINSHIP FOSTER PARENT MEETS ALL THE REQUIREMENTS SET OUT
UNDER PART III OF THIS SUBTITLE, THE KINSHIP FOSTER PARENT SHALL BE
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE FULL FOSTER CARE RATE FOR THE CARE OF THE CHILD.

(F)     (D) (1) A KINSHIP PARENT MAY NOT BE LESS THAN 21 YEARS OF AGE.

(2) THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT MAY WAIVE THE AGE REQUIREMENT OF
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION IF A POTENTIAL KINSHIP PARENT:

(I) IS AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE; AND
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