Family Services, Dept. of

Providers of Substitute Care Services, Certification of

Chapter 4: Crisis Centers

Effective Date: 05/15/2013 to 11/08/2017

Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 049.0029.4.05152013

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES FOR CERTIFICATION OF PROVIDERS OF

SUBSTITUTE CARE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN

CHAPTER 4

CRISIS SHELTERS

Section 1. Program Specific Certification Standards.

(a) All Crisis Shelters must comply with all sections of this Chapter and the following Chapters and Sections of these Rules:

(i) Chapter 1: All; (ii) Chapter 2: All; and (iii) Chapter 3: Sections 1 through 32 and Sections 35-36.

Section 2. Program Description.

(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:

(i) The child is unable to receive the parental care he/she needs in his/her own home; (ii) The child is unable to maintain him/herself in an independent living situation; (iii) The child is able to participate in family and community life including school without danger to himself/herself or others; (iv) The child and/or family is in need of the assistance of the Crisis Shelter to stabilize his/her lives; (v) The child is in need of protection; (vi) The non-violent child needs placement which is an alternative to secure detention; (vii) The child requires diagnostic assessment; (viii) The child is awaiting a more permanent placement; and/or (ix) The non-violent child is awaiting court.

(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) Direct care; (iv) Case management; and (v) 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.

Section 3. Admission Criteria.

(a) Behaviors appropriate for placement in a Crisis Shelter may include:

(i) Non-violent behavior (alternative to secure detention); (ii) Out of control; (iii) Awaiting placement; (iv) Drug/alcohol issues; (v) Family disturbance; (vi) Placement difficulties; (vii) Runaway; and/or (viii) School problems.

(b) The organization shall determine if the child is appropriate for placement in the Crisis Shelter based on the items listed in Section 2 (a).

(c) 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; and

(iii) The unrelated children in different age groups must have separate sleeping areas.

(d) Voluntary Placements.

(i) Parents or legal guardians may voluntarily place children;

(ii) Voluntary placements by parents or guardians shall not require a court order;

(iii) Written consent shall be obtained for emergency psychological, medical, substance use, and dental care signed from the parent or legal guardian at the time of admission; and

(iv) Crisis Shelters must, within seventy-two (72) hours of placement, enter into a voluntary placement agreement for services with the minor’s parents:

(A) Any exceptions must be documented; and

(B) If the parents refuse to sign, or other conditions prevail (e.g., out-of-state runaway), the following options are available:

(I) Refusal of continued placement; or

(II) Notification to DFS.

(e) 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.

Section 4. Maximum Capacity.

(a) The maximum capacity, in addition to the standards listed below, must 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.

Section 5. Program Personnel.

Crisis Shelters shall have, at a minimum, an Administrator/Executive Director and direct care staff.

Section 6. Specialized Training.

(a) Crisis Shelter staff must complete a twenty (20) hour orientation program, as described in Chapter 3, Section 11.

(b) Crisis Shelter staff must complete twenty (20) hours of annual training including the training described in Chapter 3, Section 11 as well as domestic violence and trauma training.

Section 7. Staffing Ratios.

Direct care staff includes only those staff whose primary function is to provide direct child care and supervision to residents in the program. Usually, direct care staff do not include administrators, therapists, clerical staff, unless the individual has assumed the role of direct care staff and met all requirements of direct care staff in Chapter 3 and is providing this service.

(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 one (1) awake staff for every ten (10) children during nighttime sleeping hours unless children under the age of three (3) are present then the staff:child ratio must be 1:5; and

(ii) 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.

Section 8. Basic Services.

(a) Each child shall be provided with room and board and is to be assigned a bedroom which shall include, at a minimum, a bed, mattress, mattress cover, pillow, supply of bed linen and space for the storage of personal items unless there are safety issues that would contraindicate assigning the child to a bedroom.

(b) The organization shall develop, adopt, follow and maintain on file written policies and procedures ensuring that:

(i) Children will receive guidance and instruction in personal care and hygiene appropriate to their age, gender, race and culture; and

(ii) Children will be encouraged to follow personal care and good hygiene practices.

(c) Services may or may not be provided pursuant to court order.

(d) Services must be accessible to DFS, children (self-referral), parents or legal guardians, law enforcement, and other referring organizations.