7 AAC 50.320 - Admission in residential child care facilities

(a) A residential child care facility shall set out its admission policies and criteria in writing and keep the writing current as policies and criteria are revised. The admission policies and criteria must include

(1) a description of the

(A) age range and sex of children served; and

(B) kinds of individual or family problems dealt with;

(2) a fee schedule, including any additional charges not covered in the basic service fee; and

(3) procedures relating to admission.

(b) A facility that operates a treatment program shall also describe, medical, or behavioral problems that the facility's program is designed to serve.

(c) Before admitting a child for care, a facility shall review application materials that include

(1) reasons for referral;

(2) the immediate and long-range goals of care or treatment;

(3) a social history that includes a description of the child's family and relationships with family members and other persons significant to the child;

(4) a description of the child's behavior, including both appropriate and maladaptive behavior;

(5) health information on the child required by 7 AAC 50.455(b);

(6) the child's developmental history, including the child's social and personal development and current level of functioning;

(7) the child's school history, including current educational level, special achievements, any school problems, and the child's IEP, 504 plan, or IHP, if there is one; and

(8) the history of any other placements away from the child's own home, including the reasons for the placement.

(d) A facility may not admit

(1) a child younger than six years of age, except in a facility licensed to provide emergency shelter care;

(2) a child who requires continuous nursing or medical care; or

(3) a child who has been determined by a mental health professional's evaluation to be a danger to self or others, unless the requirements of (e) of this section are satisfied.

(e) A child whose history or behavior indicates that the child may be a danger to self or others may be admitted to a residential child care facility if

(1) the facility provides security to prevent harm to the child or others; and

(2) before admission, the child is evaluated by a mental health professional and a plan of care to prevent harm to the child or others is developed and approved by that mental health professional.

(f) At or before a child's admission, a facility must have an agreement with the child placement agency or placing parent that is signed by the parties and that includes or attaches the following:

(1) specified conditions relating to the care of the child and the rate to be paid for the child's care;

(2) the authorization for emergency medical care required by 7 AAC 50.300(a) (1)(C)(ii);

(3) a determination of case management responsibilities so that all resources and services can be effectively coordinated;

(4) a description or list of services that will be provided by the facility and a description or list of services that will be provided by the child placement agency or parent;

(5) a description of the amount and frequency of contact for treatment planning that the facility shall have with the child's family and the child's placement worker;

(6) a plan for sharing information on the child with the child's placement worker or placing parent;

(7) a description of the facility's participation in the ongoing evaluation of the child's needs and progress;

(8) the designation of responsibility for working with the child's parent;

(9) visiting plans for the child's parent and family;

(10) the facility's plan for meeting the child's immediate and specific needs identified under (g) of this section;

(11) a description of the provision for treatment plan reviews;

(12) the financial plan for payment of care and other applicable fees;

(13) a provision for notification of significant events regarding the child and the notification required by 7 AAC 50.140 to the child's parent or the child's placement worker, if any;

(14) a description of the plans for the child's education and religious participation;

(15) consent forms signed by the person or placement agency responsible for the child;

(16) anticipated discharge plans, including the date of discharge; and

(17) designation of responsibility for services after discharge from the facility.

(g) At or before a child's admission, a facility shall identify any immediate and specific needs, including therapeutic or medical needs, that will not be met by established program services, and the facility's plan for meeting those needs.

(h) At the time of a child's admission, a facility shall make a complete inventory of the child's personal possessions and clothing.

(i) A facility that accepts children from other states shall comply with AS 47.70 (Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children).

Notes

7 AAC 50.320

Eff. 1/1/96, Register 136; am 3/1/98, Register 145

Authority:AS 44.29.020

AS 47.35.010