§ 5-4B-01. Definitions

   (a) In general. -- In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) Administration. -- "Administration" means the Social Services Administration of the Department.

(c) Confidential intermediary. -- "Confidential intermediary" means an individual or child placement agency qualified by the Director for the purpose of providing search, contact, and reunion services under this subtitle.

(d) Director. -- "Director" means the Director of the Administration.

(e) Member of the adoptive family. -- "Member of the adoptive family" means an adoptive parent, grandparent, brother, or sister of an adopted individual.

(f) Relative. -- "Relative" means a parent, brother, sister, child, aunt, or uncle of a biological parent.

(g) Search, contact, and reunion services. -- "Search, contact, and reunion services" means services:

   (1) to locate adopted individuals, biological parents of adopted individuals, siblings of adopted individuals, and, as provided in § 5-4B-11 of this subtitle, relatives and members of the adoptive family;

   (2) to assess the mutual desire for communication or disclosure of information:

      (i) between adopted individuals and biological parents of adopted individuals;

      (ii) between adopted individuals and siblings of adopted individuals; and

      (iii) as provided in § 5-4B-11 of this subtitle, between:

         1. adopted individuals and relatives; and

         2. biological parents and members of the adoptive family;

   (3) to provide, or provide referral to, counseling for adopted individuals, biological parents of adopted individuals, siblings of adopted individuals, relatives, and members of the adoptive family; and

   (4) if siblings of a minor in out-of-home placement were adopted through a local department, to contact the siblings to develop a placement resource or facilitate a family connection with the siblings of the minor.

(h) Sibling. -- "Sibling" means a brother or sister of the whole or half blood who:

   (1) is at least 21 years old; and

   (2) has been adopted.

HISTORY: 1998, ch. 679; 2004 Sp. Sess., ch. 7; 2005, ch. 464, § 2; 2006, ch. 312; 2011, ch. 326.