Calvert Cnty. Cir. Ct. Juvenile DCM Plan 2.1

(a) Character of Actions. These actions are those in which the Court sits as a juvenile

court other than delinquency proceedings, including CINA (Child in Need of Assistance) and TPR

(Termination of Parental Rights) cases. The provisions of this section include proceedings filed

in the juvenile court in accordance with Section 3, Subtitle 8 of the Courts & Judicial Proceedings

Article of the Maryland Annotated Code and Rule 11-501 of the Maryland Rules.

(b) Docketing. Notwithstanding the fact that the respondent may have been the subject

of a prior proceeding, each new original petition shall be filed in a new proceeding. At the time

of docketing, the case is assigned to one of four tracks- Track J3 for CINA non-shelter cases, Track

J4 for CINA shelter cases, Track J5 for Termination of Parental Rights cases and Track J6 for all

others.

(c) Hearing Days. The Court shall normally hear child welfare cases three days per

month, as directed by the County Administrative Judge. Changes in regular days, including

addition of hearing dates to the court calendar must be approved by the County Administrative

Judge. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Court shall make arrangements to

conduct Emergency Shelter Hearings when requested by the Department of Social Services (DSS).

(d) Timing of Settlement Conference. In CINA cases, Settlement Conferences shall be

scheduled, usually on the Friday before the CINA hearing.