(a) (1) The Secretary shall establish a Program to attempt to provide a volunteer mentor for each child in the State who has spent at least 30 days in a committed placement.
(2) The Program shall be called “Maryland Rising”.
(b) The purpose of the Program is to provide individualized attention to a child:
(1) to decrease the child’s delinquent or violent behavior in the community; and
(2) to increase the child’s potential for becoming a productive, successful member of the community.
(c) (1) To carry out the purpose of the Program, the Department shall develop a statewide network of State agencies, community agencies, citizen action groups, social services providers, volunteer organizations, college student groups, and other groups who will recruit volunteer mentors for the Program.
(2) A mentor shall have frequent contact with the child and may provide the following services to the child:
(i) informal counseling;
(ii) tutoring;
(iii) assisting the child with life skills training;
(iv) working with the child’s family or guardian;
(v) interacting with the child’s school or employer, if necessary; and
(vi) other individualized support services that help the child avoid negative behaviors and become a successful, productive member of the community.
(d) The Department may adopt regulations to implement this section.