Florida Administrative Code
63 - DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE
63H - Staff Training
Chapter 63H-3 - STAFF TRAINING
Section 63H-3.002 - Direct Care Pre-Service and Pre-Operational Training for State and Contracted Direct Care Staff

(a) Direct care staff shall not be in the presence of youth until the first eight topics below are successfully completed:

(b) Upon successful completion of the first eight topics, the newly hired direct care staff may be in the presence of youth while the remaining topics are completed, as long as they are under the direct supervision of a certified (state) or trained (provider) staff. The sole exception allowing a direct care staff to have unsupervised contact with youth applies only to employees in the Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO) class or contracted Probation and Community Intervention direct care staff.

(c) In the event staffing issues identify a need for additional support at a state-operated secure detention facility, and upon a mutually agreed upon determination by the Assistant Secretaries for the Office of Detention Services and the Office of Probation and Community Intervention, certified JPOs may provide direct care support in a secure detention facility. In order for a JPO to be considered for this temporary support, the following conditions must be met:

(d) All state and provider direct care staff shall adhere to all applicable training requirements set forth in Chapter 63M-2, F.A.C. Health Services and Chapter 63N-1, F.A.C. Service Delivery.

(e) The 180-day timeframe for completion of training requirements may be extended up to 90 days upon request sent by a Regional Director. The Regional Director shall forward the request to the Training Entity, who is authorized to grant the extension based on the following:

(f) In the event of a state or national emergency, the Secretary of the department, by issuance of a memorandum, may temporarily freeze all training. The timeframe of the freeze shall toll the mandated number of days required to satisfactorily complete training requirements identified within this rule.

(g) All training requirements for Prevention Services contracted employees and Probation and Community Intervention contracted employees shall be identified in contract. The Assistant Secretary for each area shall determine the required training based on the population for whom they are assigned responsibility in each individual contract to ensure the employees are well trained. The Assistant Secretary for Probation and Community Intervention shall determine the required training for state Juvenile Probation Officers who do not carry a caseload and whose sole duty is to conduct detention screenings.

(a) All newly hired direct care supervisors shall complete a minimum of 16 hours of supervisory training within 90 days of employment.

(b) The coursework shall include the following topics:

(a) In the event a new contract is executed and the provider has no previous experience with the department or does not have the capacity to maintain supervision ratios identified in contract by trained staff, all topics in paragraph 63H-3.002(1)(a), F.A.C., shall be successfully completed prior to providing any services to youth.

(b) Once sufficient staff have completed the training in (3)(a) above so that minimum staffing ratios are met, additional newly hired direct care staff, upon successful completion of the first eight topics, may be in the presence of youth while the remaining courses are competed, as long as they are under the direct supervision of a fully trained staff.