Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) In this section, “residential child care program” includes sites licensed by the Developmental Disabilities Administration.
(b) A contract awarded or renewed between an agency and a provider shall require the provider to:
(1) post conspicuously a “Residents' Bill of Rights” in the facility of the provider stating that a resident has a right:
(i) to be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect;
(ii) to receive appropriate and reasonable adult guidance, support, and supervision, consistent with the resident's age and level of development;
(iii) not to be abused, mistreated, threatened, harassed, or subjected to corporal punishment or to other unusual or extreme methods of discipline;
(iv) to have the resident's opinion heard and to be included, to the greatest extent possible and consistent with the resident's age and level of development, when major decisions, including regular case planning meetings, are being made affecting the resident's life;
(v) to reasonable and clinically appropriate visitation, mail, and telephone communication with relatives, friends, attorneys, social workers, therapists, and guardians ad litem;
(vi) to have the resident's relatives and designated representatives, who are authorized in writing by the contracting agency, to communicate with the facility of the provider, ask questions of the facility of the provider, and have questions answered promptly by the facility of the provider;
(vii) to language translation and interpretation services, if necessary;
(viii) not to be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income, or place of residence or business; and
(ix) to an appropriate education, including educational supports such as homework assistance, summer enrichment opportunities, and employment skills training;
(2) develop and, on placement, provide to residents and their parents or legal guardians a handbook of the policies of the provider and the contracting agency as they relate to:
(i) the mission of the program;
(ii) placement and discharge;
(iii) daily routines;
(iv) treatment strategies;
(v) disciplinary practices;
(vi) visiting hours;
(vii) communication procedures with residents;
(viii) grievance procedures;
(ix) health care access;
(x) religious exercise access;
(xi) emergency telephone contact information;
(xii) family involvement;
(xiii) attorney access;
(xiv) community integration;
(xv) education;
(xvi) medical and dental care;
(xvii) recreation;
(xviii) life skills training;
(xix) clothing;
(xx) personal funds;
(xxi) food and nutrition;
(xxii) day care;
(xxiii) personal belongings;
(xxiv) extracurricular activities; and
(xxv) therapy; and
(3) document in each child's case file receipt and review by the child and the parent or guardian of the child of the handbook required to be provided under item (2) of this subsection.
(c) Nothing in this section precludes a contracting agency or provider from providing additional rights to a resident.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maryland Code, Human Services § 8-707 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/md/human-services/md-code-human-serv-sect-8-707/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)