Sec. 07.02.21.03. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Administration" means the Social Services Administration.

(2) "Case manager" means a provider agent or representative responsible for:

(a) Providing supervision, training, and consultation to treatment and biological parents;

(b) Arranging and ensuring necessary services to a child; and

(c) Acting as the leader of a child's treatment team.

(3) "Case plan" means a written description of a child's needs and services to be provided to meet those needs as outlined in COMAR 07.02.13.05D and the relevant federal statutes and regulations.

(4) "Clinical supervisor" means a provider agent or representative responsible for providing supervision, training, consultation, and support to the case manager.

(5) "Foster family care" means 24-hour substitute care provided for a child in an approved or licensed foster family home.

(6) "Local department" means the department of social services in a county or Baltimore City.

(7) "Medical passport" means a confidential, abbreviated health record as outlined in COMAR 07.02.11.08.

(8) "Permanency plan" means a plan specifying:

(a) Where and with whom a child shall live; and

(b) The proposed legal relationship between a child and the child's permanent caretaker or caretakers.

(9) "Professional staff" means the case manager and clinical supervisor within the treatment foster care program.

(10) "Progress report" means a provider agency's written update of a child's treatment plan for a specific time period.

(11) "Provider agency" means the unit within the:

(a) Local department of social services charged with implementing the treatment foster care program; or

(b) Licensed child placement agency responsible for implementing the treatment foster care program.

(12) "Record keeping" means a systematic recording of information documenting activities of a child's behavior and progress in targeted areas, as defined by the treatment plan.

(13) "Respite care" means short-term care for a child to relieve the treatment family or care giver.

(14) "Serious emotional, behavioral condition" means a limitation of an individual's capacity which adversely affects the individual's ability to perform in the following areas:

(a) Daily living skills;

(b) Community living skills;

(c) Interpersonal relationships; and

(d) Appropriate educational activities.

(15) "Treatment" means the coordinated provision of services and use of procedures designed to produce a planned outcome in an individual's behavior, attitude, or general condition based on a thorough assessment of possible contributing factors.

(16) "Treatment accountability" means:

(a) Behaviorably measurable time-limited goals and a set of written procedures for achieving them; and

(b) A process for assessing results.

(17) "Treatment foster care" means a 24-hour substitute care program, operated by a licensed child placement agency or local department of social services, for children with a serious emotional, behavioral, medical, or psychological condition.

(18) "Treatment foster parent" means a caretaker who is:

(a) Licensed and trained by a child placement agency to perform parenting duties; and

(b) Responsible for implementing, monitoring, and assessing the progress of a child's individual treatment within the home setting.

(19) "Treatment plan" means a written description of the objectives, goals, and services to address the needs of a child, including the child's projected length of stay in the program.

(20) "Universal precautions" means health and safety measures used as a barrier between an individual and another individual's body fluids.