FOSTER-CARE COURT-IMPROVEMENT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE

Patrick L. Woodward, Chair (chosen by Chief Judge, Court of Appeals)
Pamela L. North, Vice-Chair (chosen by Chief Judge, Court of Appeals)

Appointed by Chief Judge, Court of Appeals: William O. Carr; Charles R. Cooper; G. Edward Dwyer, Jr.; Linda D. Ellard; Marvin S. Kaminetz; Zakia Mahasa; Ann R. Sparrough; Peter M. Tabatsko; David W. Young.

CHILD IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE (CINA)SUBCOMMITTEE
Pamela L. North, Chair

REPRESENTATION SUBCOMMITTEE
Patrick L. Woodward, Chair

STATISTICS & JUDICIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS SUBCOMMITTEE
G. Edward Dwyer, Jr., Chair

TRAINING SUBCOMMITTEE
David W. Young, Chair

Staff: Deborah A. Unitus, Assistant State Court Administrator
Althea R. Stewart Jones, Esq., Director, Foster-Care Court-Improvement Project

c/o Administrative Office of the Courts
361 Rowe Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 260-1290
fax: (410) 974-5577

The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals formed the Foster-Care Court-Improvement Implementation Committee in 1997.

To receive funds through the federal Family Preservation and Support Act of 1993, Maryland assessed how its courts were handling cases of foster care, including those of child abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, and subsequent adoption. The State then developed a plan, Improving Court Performance for Abused and Neglected Children, issued September 1997. Federal guidelines required the State to implement its plan.

Maryland's plan recommended that the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals form the Foster-Care Court-Improvement Implementation Committee and that the Committee hire a Project Director to oversee implementation of the plan.

The Committee is to develop an implementation strategy and propose changes to statutes and rules. The Committee also will prioritize recommendations; foster support and cooperation between judicial and executive agencies, and any other parties affected by implementation; and act as judicial liaison with local, State and federal entities.

Committee members were selected from the membership of the Committee on Family and Domestic Law and the Committee on Juvenile Law of the Maryland Judicial Conference. Members also represent both the Department of Human Resources and the Maryland Citizen Board for Review of Foster Care for Children.

Maryland Judiciary

Maryland Manual On-Line