37 Tex. Admin. Code § 380.8703 - Rehabilitation Program Stage Requirements and Assessment
(a) Purpose. Youth
earn the ability to move to less restrictive placements by progressing through
a stage system that measures progress in the rehabilitation program. The
purpose of this rule is to provide a general outline of the areas in which a
youth must demonstrate progress and to describe the process for assessing
progress.
(b) Applicability. This
rule applies to all residential facilities operated by the Texas Juvenile
Justice Department (TJJD). This rule does not apply to youth in contract-care
programs that are not required to provide the TJJD rehabilitation program. This
rule does not apply to youth on parole status.
(c) Definitions. See §
380.8501 of this chapter for
definitions of terms used in this rule.
(d) General Themes in the Rehabilitation
Program.
(1) TJJD's rehabilitation program is
composed of a set of stages with objectives related to each youth's
rehabilitative needs. Expectations generally increase as youth progress through
the stages.
(2) Progress is
measured through an assessment of the youth's demonstration of skills in areas
such as:
(A) appropriate participation in
education/vocational and treatment/intervention activities;
(B) understanding and use of therapeutic
tools;
(C) ability to develop,
discuss, and work toward individual goals;
(D) application of regulation tools to
maintain safe behavior; and
(E)
reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors.
(3) The objectives for each youth shall be in
writing and provided to the youth.
(4) Each youth is provided an equal
opportunity, as the youth's behavior warrants, to participate in the scheduled
activities needed to progress.
(e) Stage Assessment.
(1) A stage assessment shall be conducted
when the youth completes the required objectives for the stage or within 90
days from the previous stage assessment, whichever occurs first.
(2) Each stage assessment includes a
comprehensive assessment of the youth's progress in the rehabilitation
program.
(3) The parent/guardian
must be given an opportunity to provide input to be considered at each stage
assessment.
(4) As a result of a
stage assessment, the youth is assigned to the most appropriate stage. Youth
may be assigned to a stage that is more than one level higher than the current
stage, if appropriate.
(5) Each
youth's specific needs and responsivity must be considered when assessing a
youth's stage. If a youth fails to progress through the stages, staff must
conduct a review for responsivity needs and, if appropriate, implement
individualized interventions.
(6)
Youth may not be assigned to a lower stage, except:
(A) when it is determined that behavior
proven at a Level II due process hearing held in accordance with §
380.9555 of this chapter indicates
the youth no longer meets the requirements of the current stage
assignment;
(B) when it has been
determined that the youth has been unresponsive to intervention attempts for an
extended period of time and the youth's current stage does not reflect the
youth's current progress; or
(C) in
accordance with subsection (g) of this section.
(7) If a youth loses release eligibility
under §
380.8555 or §
380.8559 of this chapter, the
youth is no longer designated as having completed the rehabilitative program
under this rule and is assigned to stage 4.
(8) The youth and the youth's parent/guardian
are notified of the results of the stage assessment.
(f) Requirements for Stage Promotion.
(1) Stage 1--this stage focuses on building a
foundation of safety and regulation. During this stage, the youth will gain
basic knowledge of the TJJD stage objectives and requirements for program
completion. The youth attends the foundational skills development groups and
participates in individual sessions with the case manager to develop an
assessment of risk and protective factors. To determine whether youth have
completed this stage, youth are assessed on factors including:
(A) reviewing the youth's own unique
vulnerabilities and risk and protective factors with the case
manager;
(B) discussing the youth's
progress toward goals with staff;
(C) working on case plan objectives with the
case manager; and
(D) participating
safely in the following other areas of programming:
(i) treatment and intervention
activities;
(ii) academic and
workforce development programs; and
(iii) application of learned skills in daily
behavior.
(2)
Stage 2--this stage focuses on healthy connection and the ability to make
repairs after relational harm. Youth on this stage are moving beyond the
pre-contemplation stage of change to accept that changes are needed to improve
their ability to be interpersonally successful in the future. To determine
whether youth have completed this stage, youth are assessed on factors
including:
(A) exploring personal risk and
protective factors, including those related to TJJD commitment;
(B) identifying a long-term success plan and
sharing plans for community reintegration with the youth's family, community
supports, or adult mentor;
(C)
exploring patterns in thoughts, feelings, attitudes, beliefs, and
vulnerabilities; and
(D) safely
participating in other areas of programming as described in paragraph (1)(D) of
this subsection.
(3)
Stage 3--this stage focuses on taking responsibility and making prosocial
decisions. Youth on this stage are preparing to move into the action stage of
change through continued acknowledgment of the need to change and planning for
their future. To determine whether youth have completed this stage, youth are
assessed on factors including:
(A)
demonstrating a reduction in risk factors and an increase in protective
factors;
(B) taking responsibility
for behaviors leading to commitment;
(C) completing case plan objectives;
and
(D) safely participating in
other areas of programming as described in paragraph (1)(D) of this
subsection.
(4) Stage
4--this stage focuses on demonstrating and practicing learned skills for youth.
The purpose of this stage is demonstrating independence through application of
treatment concepts and skills learned in earlier stages. This stage is
considered the second-highest stage for purposes of eligibility for transition
under §
380.8545 of this chapter. To
determine whether youth have completed this stage, youth are assessed on
factors including:
(A) demonstrating continued
reduction in risk factors and increase in protective factors;
(B) identifying new thoughts, feelings,
attitudes, beliefs, and values that might increase success in the
community;
(C) completing case plan
objectives, including the ability to articulate plans for successful community
reentry; and
(D) safely
participating in other areas of programming as described in paragraph (1)(D) of
this subsection.
(5)
Rehabilitative stages completion status--this designation indicates that a
youth has completed stage 4 and is considered the highest stage for purposes of
program completion under §
380.8555 and §
380.8559 of this chapter. Youth
are in the maintenance stage of change and will be given the opportunity to
demonstrate and apply learned skills. Youth are expected to safely participate
in other areas of programming as described in paragraph (1)(D) of this
subsection.
(g) Stage
Assignment upon Return to a High- or Medium-Restriction Facility or upon
Additional Commitment. A youth is placed on the most appropriate stage, as
specified by written procedure manual, when the youth:
(1) is returned to a high-restriction
facility for disciplinary reasons through a Level II due process
hearing;
(2) is returned to a high-
or medium-restriction facility for disciplinary reasons through a Level I due
process hearing; or
(3) receives an
additional commitment to TJJD for a new offense.
Notes
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