Ch. 536                                    2004 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(III)   EFFECTIVELY ALLOCATE ITS RESOURCES, BASED ON
DEMONSTRATED OUTCOMES.

(IV)    ESTABLISH AN EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR PROGRAM
PERFORMANCE. INCLUDING MEASURES OF SAFETY. QUALITY. AND EFFECTIVENESS;
AND

(V) COMPLETE A STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE'S
RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE PROGRAM CAPACITY THAT IDENTIFIES PROGRAMS IN
EACH COMMUNITY TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF A FAMILY THAT RESIDES IN THAT
COMMUNITY.

(C)     (1) THE SYSTEM OF OUTCOMES EVALUATION SHALL USE
STANDARDIZED MEASURES OF FUNCTION TO EVALUATE THE CHILD'S:

(I)      PROTECTION FROM HARM WHILE IN OUT-OF-HOME
PLACEMENT;

(II)     STABILITY OF LIVING ENVIRONMENT;

(III)   FAMILY SITUATION AND EFFORTS TO TREAT AND COUNSEL
THE FAMILY UNIT;

(IV)    EDUCATIONAL OR VOCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT;

(V)     JOB SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT READINESS;

(VI)    CESSATION OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE;

(VII)  LEARNING TO NOT BE AGGRESSIVE; AND

(VIII) DELINQUENCY STATUS.

(2)      THE LEAD AGENCY AND COOPERATING DEPARTMENTS SHALL MAY
CONSULT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE IN DEVELOPING AND
IMPLEMENTING PLANNING AND DETERMINING THE COST OF THE SYSTEM OF
OUTCOMES EVALUATION.

(3)      THE LEAD AGENCY SHALL ASSURE THAT THE CENTRALIZED
DATABASE PLAN SHALL ENSURE THAT DATA COLLECTED AND USED IN THE SYSTEM
MAINTAINS CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION ON THE CHILDREN FROM THE
COOPERATING DEPARTMENTS.

(D)     (1) THE PLAN SHALL ENSURE THAT A COOPERATING DEPARTMENT
SHALL FACILITATE THE PARTICIPATION OF RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES OPERATED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OR PRIVATE AGENCIES WITH WHICH A DEPARTMENT HAS A
CONTRACT FOR THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN OUT-OF-HOME CARE.

(2) THE PLAN SHALL ENSURE THAT A COOPERATING DEPARTMENT
SHALL INCLUDE IN ITS CONTRACT WITH A PRIVATE LICENSED OUT-OF-HOME
PLACEMENT FACILITY PROVISIONS REQUIRING THE FACILITY TO COLLECT AND
REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT:

(I) CHILD SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION; AND

- 2542 -