Maryland Parental Placements
Maryland conducts the following types of home studies:
- Relative Care
- Foster Care
- Relative-Foster Care
- Parent Care
- Foster- Adopt
- Adoption
- Other
Kinship Care Licensing Standards home study type as requested and qualifying (in Maryland per COMAR 07.02.09 Kinship Care Progrram Standards, effective 12/16/2024 and consistent with federal law 471 (a) (19), (20), (29) of the Social Security Act: 45 CFR 1355.20: 45 CFR 1356.21 (m)).
Custodial Parent - Reunification
If child has been removed from the parent, Maryland requires a home study evaluation before reunification:
Yes, a home study in the receiving state is required prior to placement and reunification per the ICPC Compact unless per ICPC Reg. #3, 3 (a) the child is being reunified with a parent who was not the subject of abuse or neglect allegations, there is no evidence to suggest that the parent may be unfit, the sending State court has determined ICPC is inapplicable per Reg. #3, number 3 (a) and the court relinquishes jurisdictioin over the child immediately upon placement with the parent.
Non-Custodial Parents
Placements with non-custodial parents are not subject to the ICPC if:
-
A court does not have evidence before it that such parent is unfit;
-
Does not seek such evidence; and
-
Does not retain jurisdiction over the child after the court transfers the child.
Regulation 7 Priority Placement
Maryland performs priority placements:
Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study)
Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):
Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):
- Other: A preliminary report is provided at 60 days.
Maryland determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:
The date that the home study is received by the centralized ICPC office.
Mailing Process - Interstate Home Study
Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study:
|
Regular Mail |
Express Mail |
Overnight Mail |
Electronic Mail |
| Send request for a home study to Receiving State |
y |
|
|
y |
| Send home study request to Local office |
y |
|
|
y |
| Send home study report to Sending State |
y |
|
|
y |
Criminal Records Checks
Maryland requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:
- Foster Care
- Relative Care
- Relative-Foster Care
- Foster-Adopt
- Adoption
- Parent
Types of Checks (Criminal & Abuse Neglect Registry)
Maryland requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks:
Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR)
|
Federal |
State |
Local |
ANR |
NR |
| Foster Care |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Relative |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Relative Foster Care |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Adoption |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Foster-Adopt |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
| Parent |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
Wait Time for Criminal Records Checks
Wait time for fingerprint results are:
Live Scan or other technology
- State: 4-7 days
- Local/County: Not Offered
Manually - Fingerprint Card
- State: 61-180 days
- Local/County: Not Offered
Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):
Verification of Criminal Records Results
- Actual results/information contained in the Criminal Background
Wait Time - (License/Certification/Approval - Education and Training)
Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:
Length of time a license is valid before renewal required:
Maryland offers classes (education and training) for placement resources' homes to become licensed/certified/approved:
