Florida Administrative Code
63 - DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE
63N - Mental Health/Substance Abuse/Developmental Disability Services
Chapter 63N-1 - SERVICE DELIVERY
Section 63N-1.006 - Suicide Risk Alerts and Mental Health Alerts

(a) A "Suicide Risk Alert" designation shall be made by direct care or clinical staff when a youth is identified during screening or by staff observations as having Suicide Risk Factors.

(b) The youth coded as a Suicide Risk Alert must be placed on Suicide Precautions and maintained on Constant Supervision until an Assessment of Suicide Risk is conducted. If a youth exhibits behaviors which require both a "Suicide Risk Alert" and "Mental Health Alert, " the procedures for a "Suicide Risk Alert" must be followed.

(c) Youths on Suicide Precautions shall be coded as a "Suicide Risk Alert" until Suicide Precautions are removed.

(d) An exception is provided for residential commitment programs designated for Specialized Treatment Services where a Mental Health Clinical Staff Person conducts mental health screening at admission, and if a youth is identified with Suicide Risk Factors, immediately administers an Assessment of Suicide Risk. Based upon Assessment of Suicide Risk findings, the Mental Health Clinical Staff Person will determine whether a "Suicide Risk Alert" will be placed in JJIS.

(a) A "Mental Health Alert" designation shall be made by direct care or clinical staff when a youth is identified as having mental health conditions and factors which may pose a safety or security risk.

(b) Mental Health Alert indicators include the following:

(c) An exception is provided for residential commitment programs designated for Specialized Treatment Services where a Mental Health Clinical Staff Person administers mental health screening at admission, and if a youth is identified with mental health conditions or factors which may pose a safety or security risk, immediately administers a Crisis Assessment at admission. In such instances, the Mental Health Clinical Staff Person will determine whether a "Mental Health Alert" will be placed in JJIS, based upon the Crisis Assessment findings.

(d) Youths coded as a "Mental Health Alert" must be maintained on one of the following levels of supervision:

(e) Documentation of One-to-One supervision or Constant Supervision of youths on Mental Health Alert must be recorded on the Mental Health Alert - Observation Log (MHSA 007), or a form developed by the program which contains all the information required in form MHSA 007. The Mental Health Alert - Observation Log (MHSA 007, August 2006) is incorporated by reference and is available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-03776, or may be obtained by contacting: DJJ, Office of Health Services, 2737 Centerview Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399.

(f) Documentation of close supervision is recorded on the Close Supervision-Visual Checks Log (MHSA 020) or a form developed by the program which contains all the information required in form MHSA 020. The Close Supervision-Visual Checks Log (MHSA 020, August 2006) is incorporated by reference and is available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-03777, or may be obtained by contacting: DJJ, Office of Health Services, 2737 Centerview Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399.

(a) If the downgrade of discontinuation of alert status is made by a non-licensed Mental Health Clinical Staff Person, the concurrence of a Licensed Mental Health Professional must be documented by the Mental Health Clinical Staff Person in a progress note and JJIS.

(b) A copy of the documented concurrence of the Licensed Mental Health Professional must be permanently filed in the youth's individual healthcare record.