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Circuit Court for Washington County Case No. CCJ14746 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND No. 134 September Term, 1999

IN RE: ADOPTION/GUARDIANSHIP NO. CCJ14746 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY

Bell, C.J. Eldridge Rodowsky Raker Wilner Cathell Harrell, JJ.

Opinion by Raker, J.

Filed: September 13, 2000

The question presented in this case is whether the Circuit Court for Washington County erred in permitting a licensed clinical social worker to testify as an expert witness and to provide diagnostic expert testimony. The Court of Special Appeals affirmed the judgment of the Circuit Court, holding that the trial court neither erred nor abused its discretion in receiving the opinions. We shall affirm. Petitioner Shannon P. is the mother of a minor child, also named Shannon P.,1 born August 20, 1993. Shannon first came to the attention of the Washington County Department of Social Services (WCDSS) when she was placed into foster care for three days in November, 1994. Intensive Family Services2 were provided to the family until February, 1995. In July, 1995, Ms. P. asked WCDSS to provide assistance and WCDSS again provided time-limited intervention services. The case was closed in October, 1995, due to Ms. P.'s non-compliance.

In December, 1996, Ms. P. again requested help with parenting and the case was again closed for non-compliance. Around February, 1997, WCDSS received a physical abuse report concerning a cigarette burn on Shannon's forehead, and bruises on her head. This prompted WCDSS to open a Child Protective Services case. Following an investigation by WCDSS, Ms. P. agreed to a voluntary placement of Shannon with a family friend. During this placement, Ms. P. was incarcerated for one month for a violation of probation. In November, 1997, Ms. P. was

Throughout this opinion, the child will be referred to as "Shannon" and the Petitioner will be referred to as "Ms. P." or "Petitioner." Intensive Family Services is a service provided by the Department of Social Services to a family that is at risk of an out-of-home placement of a child. See COMAR 07.02.01.
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-2admitted to a hospital following a drug overdose. At the same time, Child Protective Services determined that Shannon was neglected. On January 15, 1998, Ms. P. was convicted of the criminal offenses of theft and possession of controlled dangerous substances and sentenced to three years at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women. On the same day, Shannon was placed in foster care, where she has remained ever since. Since March, 1999, Shannon has lived in a prospective adoptive foster home. The foster parents wish to adopt Shannon, and WCDSS plans to consent to the adoption should it obtain guardianship with the right to consent. After a hearing on March 19, 1998, Shannon was adjudicated a child in need of assistance by the Circuit Court for Washington County, pursuant to Maryland Code (1973, 1998 Repl. Vol., 1999 Supp.)

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