1. (a)

   1. (1)

      1. (A) The Division of Youth Services shall provide its employees and the employees of its contracted providers with training required by applicable state and federal laws and other training identified by the agency as appropriate in order for employees to obtain the knowledge and skills needed for the successful performance of their job duties.
      2. (B) All full-time volunteers shall receive the same training as full-time employees who work in a similar capacity.
      3. (C) Part-time volunteers and contract vendors shall receive training appropriate to their assignments.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) The division and its contracted providers shall use training locations and environments that promote the effective acquisition of new knowledge and skills.
      2. (B) Each location shall be:

2. (i) Easily accessible to staff;

   1. (ii) Free from distractions; and

      1. (iii) Beyond observation by youth.

   2. (3)

      1. (A) Both new and current employees in positions that are responsible for daily or routine direct care of youth shall successfully complete the training requirements for those positions before being approved for sole supervision of youth.
      2. (B) To maintain sole-supervision status, an employee shall successfully complete all formal training hours, including preservice, annual, and specialized training, in accordance with the division training requirements.

3. (b) The division Training Coordinator shall:

   1. (1) Establish training requirements that:

      1. (A) Are aligned with the mission of the division; and
      2. (B) Meet or exceed standards set by state and federal laws;

   2. (2) Ensure that the training program is:

      1. (A) Responsive to:

         1. (i) Requirements of staff positions;
         2. (ii) Professional development needs;
         3. (iii) Current issues and trends, including evidence- or research-based practices; and
         4. (iv) New theories, techniques, and technologies; and
      2. (B) Facilitated by qualified individuals;
   3. (3) Perform site audits of training records at each facility twice a year to ensure fidelity of training curriculum conducted at the facilities; and

   4. (4) Verify that each division facility also has a designated space for training.

      1. (c)
   5. (1) A course may be offered as a classroom course or as a computer-based course.

   6. (2) Senior management shall determine the most appropriate method of delivery for courses to be included in the training requirements for each position.

      1. (d)
   7. (1) Each facility shall have a minimum of one (1) assigned facility training specialist who is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the training program at the facility.

   8. (2) These duties shall include:

      1. (A) Collaborating with appropriate administrators in preparing the facility's quarterly training calendar;
      2. (B) Establishing training compliance goals in coordination within the facility and division administrators; and

      3. (C) Maintaining records of each course trained in accordance with:

         1. (i) Division management directives; and
         2. (ii) The Department of Human Services records retention schedule.
   9. (3) A facility training specialist may be asked to facilitate additional training initiatives to support the agency's mission.
   10. (4) At the conclusion of each training course, the facility training specialist shall provide to all participants a method for evaluating the course.

   11. (5)

       1. (A) Each division employee, employee of its contracted provider, and volunteer shall receive credit for successfully completing each training course.
       2. (B) The facility training specialist shall determine whether an employee successfully completed a training course based on criteria established by the division Training Coordinator.

       3. (C)

          1. (i) An employee, employee of its contracted provider, or volunteer who disrupts program activities shall be dismissed from training and instructed to return to his or her work site.
          2. (ii) The authority to dismiss an employee from a training session rests with the individual conducting the training.

   12. (6)

       1. (A) The facility training specialist shall compile and submit a monthly training compliance report for the division Training Coordinator and division administration by the tenth of each month.

       2. (B) At a minimum, the report shall contain:

          1. (i) A summary of the previous month’s training provided with the number of participants attended and courses completed;
          2. (ii) A copy of the training schedule for the upcoming month;
          3. (iii) Any upcoming specialized training that will be held onsite;
          4. (iv) A list of employees whose training is overdue; and
          5. (v) Any other relevant information or issues that management should be aware of, including a request for any additional action needed.
4. (e) A meeting, including without limitation a staff meeting or shift briefing, review, or discussion of policy and procedure or other instructional or informational topic is not considered a training activity unless supporting documentation indicates that all or part of the meeting was designated solely for the purpose of training.

5. (f)

   1. (1) The following table containing a description of general job categories should be used in determining minimum training requirements as outlined in the standards.
   2. (2) Contract or part-time employees shall receive training similar to full-time employees in their particular category and pertinent to their role in working with youths.
   3. (3) The division follows ACA standards for training hour requirements as listed below.

      CATEGORY	TYPICAL POSITION TITLES	BASIC ORIENTATION	FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB	EACH YEAR THERE AFTER
      CLERICAL/ SUPPORT(Minimum Contact)	Secretaries, clerks, typists, computer/ warehouse personnel, accountants,	yes	16	a 16
      	personnel staff
      SUPPORT(Regular or	Food service, industry work	yes	40	40
      Daily Contact)	supervisors,
      	maintenance work
      	supervisors
      PROFESSIONAL SPECIALIST	Case managers, counselors, social	yes	40	40
      workers,
      psychologists,
      teachers, librarians,
      medical personnel,
      chaplains,recreation
      specialists
      CHILDCARE SUPERVISION	All staff assigned to full-time child care	yes	120	40
      STAFF	and/or supervisionduties
      ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT	Superintendents, deputy or assistant	yes	40	40
      PERSONNEL	superintendents,
      	business managers,
      	personnel directors,
      	care supervisors,
      	shift supervisors

Codification Notes: “ACA” means American Correctional Association.