PURPOSE: The purpose of this rule is to establish guidelines and lines of authority for theclassificationprocedure when a youngster is classified from one of the institutional reception centers in lieu of or as a supplement to regional classification.

1. (1) The director of reception, subject to all other divisional rules and policies, has full authority to assign youngsters to any residential unit. Classification criteria to be used is contained in 13 CSR 110-2.040.

2. (2) After a determination of the type of program in which a youngster would best function, if it is determined s/he could best function in a community-based program, the assignment will be made in the following order:

   1. (A) If a vacancy exists in the youngster’s home community, the director of reception should assign the youngster to that unit;
   2. (B) If no vacancy exists in a local umt, the assignment can be made on a regional basis;
   3. (C) If no vacancy exists on a regional basis, the assigment should be made on the basis of urban youngsters to urban units and rural youngsters to rural units; and
   4. (D) When none of the circumstances in (2)(A)-(C) exist, the youngster can be assigned to a community-based program regardless of the location, as long as the director of reception still considers the assignment in the best interest of the child.
3. (3) All records are to accompany each youngster upon his/her assignment and delivery to another unit.

4. (4) Unit managers who do not agree with a particular classification assignment may appeal this assignment to their immediate SUperviSOr.

   Auth: section 219.036, RSMo (1986). Original rule filed Dec. 30,1975, effective Jan. 9,1976.