Code of Maryland Regulations (Last Updated: April 6, 2021) |
Title 07. Department of Human Services |
Subtitle 02. SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION |
Chapter 07.02.07. Child Protective Services—Investigation of Child Abuse and Neglect |
Sec. 07.02.07.18. The Record
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A. Until expunged in accordance with Regulation .19 of this chapter, the local department shall maintain:
(1) Every report of suspected child abuse or neglect; and
(2) A case record of a CPS Response.
B. The case record shall include:
(1) Materials obtained in the CPS response, including but not limited to:
(a) The written report of suspected child abuse or neglect;
(b) Recordings of interviews conducted by the local department, child advocacy center or, in a joint investigation, by law enforcement during the CPS response; and
(c) Medical records, law enforcement reports and photographs, correspondence, consents, court orders, court reports, and all other documents obtained during the CPS response;
(2) Documentation of the local department's CPS response including:
(a) Notes of contacts and interviews, including handwritten notes;
(b) The names, addresses, and telephone numbers if available, of the parents, guardians, identified relatives, and other significant individuals related to the CPS response;
(c) A written narrative of the CPS response;
(d) Safety and risk assessments and other documentation of the safety of the alleged victim and of the other children in the household and the risk of future maltreatment;
(e) The need for ongoing services and linkage to services; and
(f) In an investigation:
(i) A closing letter to the victims parents or guardians documenting the reason for and the outcome of the investigation; and
(ii) A notice of a finding and the right to appeal to the alleged maltreator; and
(g) In an alternative response, a written report provided to the family members;
C. If a local department provides child welfare services other than child protective services after completion of a CPS response, the local department's files related to the child welfare services shall be kept with but not as a part of the CPS response record.