Wyo. Code R. 049-0029-4
Providers of Substitute Care Services, Certification of
Chapter 4: Crisis Shelters
Effective Date: 11/08/2017 to 09/03/2021
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 049.0029.4.11082017
(a) All Crisis Shelters must comply with all sections of this Chapter and the following Chapters and Sections of these Rules:
(a) Crisis Shelters provide a group home living setting for short-term, emergency services for children available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days for the following purposes:
(b) Crisis Shelters provide voluntary, temporary shelter services and may also provide the following:
(i) Crisis management/counseling; (ii) Individualized programming for each child; (iii) Case management; and (iv) Assistance to the child's parent(s) or legal guardian in making referrals to other organizations/programs.
(c) The local DFS Manager may approve one extension for up to thirty (30) days in agreement with the provider for children requiring shelter care.
(d) For purposes of daily census reporting to DFS, the number of children in the facility shall be counted at eleven o'clock (11:00) p.m.
(a) Issues appropriate for placement in a Crisis Shelter may include:
(i) Non-violent behavior (alternative to secure detention); (ii) Out of control; (iii) Drug/alcohol and/or drug endangered; (iv) Family disturbance; (v) Placement difficulties; (vi) Runaway; (vii) School problems; and/or (viii) Suspected child abuse and/or neglect (including abandonment).
(b) Age Range
(i) The organization may provide Crisis Shelter services for children from birth through seventeen (17) years of age;
(ii) Special provisions for sleeping arrangements shall be made for children in two (2) separate age groups, defined as children birth through nine (9) years and children age ten (10) years and over. The unrelated children in different age groups shall have separate sleeping areas.
(c) Voluntary Placements.
(i) Parents or legal guardians may voluntarily place children and these placements shall not require a court order;
(ii) Written consent shall be obtained for emergency psychological, medical, and dental care signed from the parent or legal guardian at the time of admission; and
(iii) Crisis Shelters must, within seventy-two (72) hours of placement, enter into a voluntary placement agreement for services with the minor’s parents or legal guardian:
(A) Any exceptions must be documented; and
(B) If the parents or legal guardian refuse to sign, or other conditions prevail (e.g., out-of-state runaway), the crisis shelter may refuse continued placement or notify DFS.
(d) Self-Referral Placements.
(i) Shall be handled on a case-by-case basis; and
(ii) Attempts shall be made to notify the parents or legal guardian as soon as possible (never exceeding eight [8] hours), except in cases involving abuse or neglect, which must be reported immediately to the child protective agency (local DFS) or local law enforcement agency.
(a) The maximum capacity, in addition to the standards listed below, shall be based on the facility’s ability to provide safe treatment, subject to space, staff/client ratio, and manageable caseloads.
(b) Each Crisis Shelter shall provide services for no more than ten (10) children.
(c) In an emergency, the provider may exceed its certified capacity under the following conditions:
(i) The Crisis Shelter has sufficient bed space;
(ii) The Crisis Shelter has available staff to meet the staff:child ratio required for the specific setting (e.g., group home or residential treatment); and
(iii) The Crisis Shelter shall not exceed by more than three (3) its certified capacity unless otherwise permitted by DFS.
(d) Any time the Crisis Shelter exceeds its certified capacity, the organization must notify the local DFS office within twenty-four (24) hours and DFS will make the determination as to the length of time that the facility can remain over its licensed capacity.
Crisis Shelters shall have, at a minimum, an Administrator/Executive Director and direct care staff.
Crisis Shelter staff shall complete a twenty (20) hour orientation program and twenty (20) hours of annual training to include suicide prevention, domestic violence and trauma training.
(a) During the daytime and evening, the minimum ratio of staff to children must be 1:6 for children ages three (3) and older and 1:4 for children under the age of three (3); and
(b) During nighttime sleeping hours:
(i) There must be a direct care staff:child ratio of 1:10 during nighttime sleeping hours unless children under the age of three (3) are present then the staff:child ratio must be 1:5;
(ii) Bedroom checks of children shall be conducted at a minimum of three (3) times per hour, on a random, unscheduled basis and the exact time of the check shall be documented in an overnight log; and
(iii) One (1) or more staff members shall be available on call to provide direct care to any child in crisis or in need of supervision during the nighttime hours.
(iv) Direct supervision of individual youth shall be adjusted to meet his/her specific needs (i.e. runaway risk, youth on room restriction, risk to self or other).