Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Safety and
welfare standards of facilities shall incorporate the following:
(a) All indoor areas and attached buildings
shall be clean, neat, and well maintained. No graffiti shall be allowed to
remain on walls, doors, or windows.
(b) Weekly sanitation and safety inspections
of all internal and external areas and equipment shall be conducted to ensure
that the facility is clean and in good repair. Inspections shall be documented
in writing.
(c) To help ensure that
the facility is clean and in good repair a maintenance and housekeeping plan
shall be developed and employed.
(d) For facilities that operate during
evening hours, the facility perimeter and grounds shall be lit.
(e) Separate bathroom facilities shall be
provided for males and females. For every 30 males, and for every 30 females,
there shall be at least one operable toilet and washbasin with hot and cold
running water and antibacterial soap.
(f) Space shall be available for private
counseling, group meetings, and classrooms.
(2) Facilities shall have a comprehensive
safety regimen that includes fire prevention.
(a) Smoking shall not be permitted in the
facility. Any designated smoking areas shall be outside of the facility and
clearly marked.
(b) A fire alarm
and automatic detection system is required. All facility staff and youth shall
be trained in the operation of the alarm system.
(c) Fire protection equipment shall be
available at strategic locations throughout the facility and shall be checked
quarterly. All facility staff and youth shall be trained in the proper
operation and use of available equipment.
(d) Fire drill procedures shall include the
following:
1. Unannounced fire drills
conducted at least monthly.
2.
Drills shall be conducted under varied conditions and across all
shifts.
3. All fire drills shall be
documented in the Fire Safety Log.
4. A Fire Safety Log shall be kept in the
facility and shall contain a record of annual fire safety inspections, a
summary of all deficiencies found by fire officials, a record of corrections,
and the results of periodic fire safety inspections and equipment
checks.
(3) An
evacuation plan shall specify routes of evacuation and provisions for medical
care or hospital transportation for youth and facility staff.
(a) The evacuation plan shall provide that
the facility director or designee in charge shall make the decision to evacuate
the facility, and the notice to evacuate shall be clearly
communicated.
(b) Facility staff in
each area shall help control the exit of youth and visitors in an orderly
manner.
(c) Facility staff shall be
alerted to the location of available alarm boxes and outside
telephones.
(d) A written emergency
disaster plan shall be reviewed annually, updated as needed, and detail the
procedures for fire, severe weather, hurricane and tornado warnings, flooding,
youth riots, hostage taking, chemical spills and bomb threats.
(e) A current listing of telephone numbers
for local emergency departments shall be posted next to every facility
telephone.
(4) Facilities
that allow youth to participate in water related recreational activities shall
have a water safety plan. The facility shall provide one certified lifeguard
for every eight (8) participating youth. Youth shall take a swim test prior to
any swimming activities.
(5) The
facility shall provide for the prompt notification of a youth's parent or
guardian in cases of serious illness, injury, or death.
(6) Facilities providing meals shall comply
with the following requirements:
(a) The food
service and dining area shall be clean and well maintained.
(b) The facility must provide youth special
diets when prescribed for health reasons or to accommodate religious
beliefs.
(c) There shall be a
single menu for facility staff and youth.
(d) The facility must not withhold food as a
disciplinary measure.
(7)
Facilities shall provide daily transportation to and from the facility or shall
arrange for such transportation.
(a) All
facility vehicles that transport youth shall be kept in safe and sound
condition.
(b) Facility staff
transporting youth shall have current, valid driver's licenses.
(c) Facility vehicles shall have current
insurance and automobile registration.
(d) A youth committed or otherwise assigned
to a non-residential facility cannot be denied services or penalized because of
the lack of transportation.
(e) All
vehicles shall be locked when not in use.
(f) Youth and staff shall wear seat belts
while the vehicle is in operation.
(8) Facilities shall meet the following
standards of administration and operation:
(a)
The facility director is responsible for maintaining information on the
facility and reporting to the department.
(b) Monthly reports shall be submitted to the
department detailing incidents, and population data.
(c) Youth listed on the facility roster shall
match the census report in the JJIS.
(d) Statistical information shall be
maintained, including monthly data on admissions, releases, transfers,
absconds, abuse reports, medical and mental health emergencies, incidents,
personnel actions, volunteer hours and average length of stay.
(e) The facility shall comply with the
department's CCC incident reporting requirements.
(f) A daily facility log shall be maintained
for facility staff to record significant facility activities, events, and
incidents. Special attention shall be given to entries impacting the safety and
security of the facility, which shall be highlighted to ensure attention.
1. The facility director shall review the log
on a bi-weekly basis, acting where appropriate. Any action taken shall be
documented in the log.
2. Log
entries shall be brief, and legibly written in ink. Recording errors shall be
struck through with a single line, with void written by the error and the
correction initialed by facility staff.
3. Each log entry shall provide the following
information:
a. Date and time of
incident;
b. Name of the youth and
facility staff involved;
c. Brief
statement of pertinent information; and
d. Name of the person making the entry with
the date, time of entry and signature.
(g) Facility staff shall comply with the
training requirements as outlined in Chapter 63H-1, F.A.C. (Protective Action
Response), and Chapter 63H-2, F.A.C.
Rulemaking Authority 985.64, 985.601 FS. Law Implemented
985.03, 985.601 FS.
New 5-4-20.