Ch. 367

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(1) The timeliness, nature, and extent of the services offered by the child
placement agency to facilitate reunion of the child with the natural parent;

(2) Any social service agreement between the natural parent and the child
placement agency, 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 natural
parents, the child's siblings, and any other individuals who may significantly affect the
child's best interest;

(4) The child's adjustment to home, school, and community;

(5) The effort the natural parent has made to adjust the natural parent's
circumstances, conduct, or conditions to make it in the best interest of the child to be
returned to the natural parent's home, including:

(i) The extent to which the natural parent has maintained regular
contact with the child under a plan to reunite the child with the natural parent, but the
court may not give significant weight to any incidental visit, communication, or
contribution;

(ii) If the natural parent is financially able, the payment of a
reasonable part of the child's substitute physical care and maintenance;

(iii) The maintenance of regular communication by the natural parent
with the custodian of the child; and

(iv) Whether additional services would be likely to bring about a lasting
parental adjustment so that the child could be returned to the natural parent within an
ascertainable time, not exceeding 18 months from the time of placement, but the court
may not consider whether the maintenance of the parent-child relationship may serve as
an inducement for the natural parent's rehabilitation; and

(6) All services offered to the natural parent before the placement of the
child, whether offered by the agency to which the child is committed or by other agencies
or professionals.

(d) (1) In determining whether it is in the best interest of the child to terminate
a natural parent's rights as to the. child in a case involving a child who has been
adjudicated to be a child in need of assistance, a neglected child, an abused child, or a
dependent child, the court shall consider the factors in subsection (c) of this section and
whether any of the following continuing or serious conditions or acts exist:

(i) The natural parent has a disability that renders the natural parent
consistently unable to care for the immediate and ongoing physical or psychological needs
of the child for long periods of time;

(ii) The natural parent has committed acts of abuse or neglect toward
any child in the family; or

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