Source: https://www.peoples-law.org/node/267
Timestamp: 2019-08-25 16:27:15
Document Index: 454624387

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Children in Need of Assistance (CINA) | The Maryland People's Law Library
Who is a child in need of assistance?
A court will find a child "in need of assistance" (CINA) if the local Department of Social Services (DSS) proves:
that a child has been abused or neglected, or has a developmental disability or mental disorder; and
that the child’s parents, guardian, or custodian do not give proper care and attention to the child’s needs.
Abuse includes sexual abuse or physical or mental injury that shows that the child’s health or welfare is being harmed by a parent, caretaker, or other household or family member. A person who allows or encourages a child to engage in obscene or pornographic activity, prostitution, or human trafficking has committed “sexual abuse.”
The court’s goal in a CINA case is to achieve a permanent placement for the child that is consistent with the child’s best interests. The law is designed to only separate a child from his or her parents when it is necessary for the child’s welfare. In all stages of a CINA case, when it is possible and in the child's best interest, the law gives priority to placing the child with relatives over non-relatives.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 3-801
Most CINA cases have four stages:
Adjudication (which is similar to a trial)
Disposition (which is similar to sentencing)
After the local DSS files a CINA petition, a CINA case usually begins with a shelter care hearing. If the court finds that there is an emergency situation making it against the child’s welfare to stay in the home, the court may place the child in shelter care. Shelter care is a temporary measure (usually no more than 30 days). A child may be placed in shelter care before a hearing in certain emergency situations.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-815
NOTE: Maryland law provides that the court will conduct a hearing at least every six months after a CINA petition is filed. At this hearing, the court will evaluate the child's safety and various other aspects of the child's case.
The second phase after a CINA petition is filed is the adjudication hearing. If the child is in shelter care, the case moves to adjudication within 30 days. If the child is not in shelter care, an adjudication hearing must be held within 60 days from the service of the CINA petition.
Read the Rule: Md. Rule 11-114
During adjudication, the court determines if the facts in the CINA petition are true. If the court finds that the local DSS has proven the allegations showing neglect, abuse, or that the child’s special needs are not being met, the case moves to the disposition phase (usually on the same day).
At disposition, the court decides whether the child is a “CINA” (a child in need of assistance). The court may:
Return the child to a parent under specific conditions; or
Place the child in foster care; or
Award custody and guardianship to a person who can provide proper care for the child.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-819
If a child is placed out of the home for at least one year after the initial removal, the court must hold a permanency planning hearing. At the hearing, the court reviews the child’s permanency plan, and may order:
the child be returned to the custody of the parent or guardian; or
the child be placed with a relative (for adoption, or custody and guardianship); or
the child be placed with a non-relative (for adoption, or custody and guardianship); or
another planned permanent living arrangement that meets the child’s needs.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-823
Reasonable efforts to unify a child with the family are a priority. However, the child’s safety and health are the primary concern.
DSS may petition for reasonable efforts to be waived and are not required if the parent:
subjected the child/a sibling of the child/or another child in the household to chronic or severe physical abuse, chronic and life threatening neglect, sexual abuse, torture;
if the parent or guardian failed to take steps to protect the child after a person in the household has inflicted the abuse described in (1) above;
the child/ sibling of the child/ another child in the household has suffered severe physical abuse or death resulting from the abuse and that person who remains in the household;
the parent or guardian has abandoned the child; or
the parent or guardian has been convicted of violent crimes or has involuntarily lost parent rights of a sibling of the child.
If efforts are waived, a permanency planning hearing must be held within 30 days.
Read the Law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-812
Permanency planning hearings are then held every 6 months until permanency is achieved. Only children 16 or older my have a new planned permanent living arrangement as part of their permanency plan. If the court orders the child be placed for adoption, the court will schedule a termination of parental rights (TPR) hearing, instead of the next 6-month hearing.
CINA proceedings are not open to the public. Case records about the child are confidential.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings §§ 3-810(b); 3-827
A parent or guardian of the child has the right to be represented by a lawyer in all of the CINA proceedings. If the parent cannot afford a lawyer, the Office of the Public Defender may represent him or her if the parent is financially eligible, or if the parent is under age 18 or incompetent by reason of mental disability.
The child will also be represented by his or her own lawyer in all of the CINA proceedings. The court will appoint an independent attorney for the child. The State of Maryland contracts with legal services providers (usually the Legal Aid Bureau) and pays for their services to children in CINA cases.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-813
In a CINA case where a child is born exposed to certain illegal drugs, or the mother tests positive for certain illegal drugs when admitted to a hospital for delivery, it is much more likely that the child will be found a CINA. If drug treatment is made available to the mother, and she refuses treatment or does not successfully complete treatment, there will be a presumption within 1 year after the child’s birth that the child is not receiving proper care and attention from the mother.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-818
Other things to note about CINA cases
Parents may voluntarily place a child in DSS custody and may sign a written agreement specifying the legal status of the child and rights and obligations of everyone (the parent, the child, and DSS).
Read the Law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-811
Before any proceeding concerning a child, the local DSS will generally give 10 days notice to the child's foster parent, preadoptive parent, or caregiver, of the date, time, and place of the proceeding, and of the right to be heard at the proceeding. This notice provision can be waived for good cause. The foster parent, preadoptive parent, or caregiver, or an attorney for those people, has the right to be heard at the proceeding.
Read the Law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-816.3
At the disposition hearing, the court may order either or both parents to pay for the support of the child.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-819(l)
At the disposition hearing, if the allegations in the CINA petition are sustained against only one parent of a child, and the second parent is able and willing to care for the child, the court may award custody to the other parent.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-819(e)
The court may order a party to act or not act in a way where the person’s conduct is harmful to the child, or the ordered conduct is necessary for the child’s welfare.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-821
Healthcare providers can disclose some medical records relating to abuse without the permission of persons in interest under certain circumstances.
Read the law: Md. Code, Health-General § 4-306
A parent may leave an unharmed newborn with a responsible adult for up to 10 days without facing civil liability or criminal prosecution for neglect.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 5-641
In some situations, the judge may consider out-of-court statements that a child under age 13 made to professionals (teachers, nurses, mental health professionals, etc.) about the alleged abuse or neglect.
Read the law: Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 11-304
It is a crime for an adult to willfully contribute to or encourage an act, omission, or condition that renders a child in need of assistance.
Read the law: Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 3-828
Updated by LieAnn T. Van-Tull, Esq. Last updated by Regina Strait, Esq.
Last Updated: Thu, 05/23/2019 - 12:51 pm
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