Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 290 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 290-2 - FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES
Subject 290-2-29 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR MATERNITY HOMES
Rule 290-2-29-.15 - Basic Maternity Home Programs-Casework Services

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 290-2-29-.15

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024

(1) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Preplacement Assessment. A preplacement assessment shall be performed during which the home and legal custodian determine whether the home can meet the known needs of the resident. All relevant information required for admission to the home shall be reviewed in preplacement assessment and planning. Documentation of the preplacement assessment shall be maintained in the resident's file.

(2) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Preplacement Assessment. Prior to admission, the home shall provide the legal custodian with written information that includes:

(a) The home's program purpose and program description;

(b) The description of service planning and normal daily routines of residents;

(c) The description of health services including how the home handles illnesses, injuries, and medical emergencies (life-threatening, limb-threatening, and function-threatening conditions);

(d) The home's policies and procedures for behavior management and grievances;

(e) The home's policies and procedures for visiting hours and communications with persons outside the home;

(f) The names and telephone numbers of the resident 's designated human services professional and primary direct care staff; and

(g) A schedule of fees if placement is not done under a purchase of service agreement.

(3) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Preplacement Assessment. The director of the home, in consultation with the human services professional, shall make the decision whether to accept an applicant for residential care on the basis of assessed needs of the resident and the make-up of the group currently in the home. A home shall only admit a youth whose known needs can be met by the home based on a preplacement assessment. Documentation of the preplacement assessment shall be maintained in the resident's file. The preplacement assessment shall include:

(a) Reasons for placement; and

(b) Placement needs such as social, health, educational, family, behavioral, and personal developmental history. In addition, the history shall include pregnancy status.

(4) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Preplacement Visit. The home shall document a preplacement visit by the resident, and the parent(s) or legal guardian(s), or placing agency representative if there is a reasonable likelihood that the resident will be admitted.

(5) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Admission. Upon admission, the human services professional shall discuss with the resident and obtain signed documentation from the legal custodian that they have received and considered the information provided in the rules and determined that the placement environment is appropriate and does not represent an undue risk to the health and safety of the potential resident being placed. Information provided to the resident shall include:

(a) Rules of the home and resident responsibilities;

(b) Services available through the home and community;

(c) Rights regarding residence in the home;

(d) Normal daily routines of residents;

(e) Health services, including how the home handles illnesses, injuries, and medical emergencies, particularly with regard to the residents' child(ren);

(f) Policies and procedures for behavior management and grievances;

(g) Policies and procedures for visiting hours and communications with persons outside the home; and

(h) Contact information for the resident's designated human services professional and primary residential staff.

(6) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Assessment. The home's 15 day assessment shall be coordinated by the resident's designated human services professional. The home shall assess the needs of the resident in the areas of health care, room, board and watchful oversight, education, family relationships, personal, social and vocational development, and any behavioral issues that require monitoring. This assessment is intended to expand upon the initial preplacement assessment required by these rules. If an assessment is not completed within 15 days, the reasons for the delay shall be documented in the resident's case record and such documentation shall include statements indicating when the assessment is expected to be completed.

(7) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Assessment. A home shall obtain the resident's records from all prenatal health care and counseling services in order to complete the health needs component of the assessment.

(8) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Assessment. A home shall obtain the resident's school records from the last school attended in order to complete the education needs component of the assessment.

(9) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Service Plan. A written room, board and watchful oversight plan shall be developed within 15 days of admission by the resident's human services professional in concert with the resident's primary direct care staff, meaning the staff who has responsibility for supervision of the resident in the living unit where the resident resides. The plan shall contain the following data:

(a) The results of the assessment and identified needs;

(b) Statements of time-limited goals and objectives for the resident and methods of achieving them and evaluating them;

(c) Statements of activities to be followed by the resident and staff members in pursuit of the stated goals and objectives;

(d) Statements of any special care and services that will be arranged for or provided directly. Statements of special care and services include, but are not limited to, therapy, enhanced supervision, medications used to manage behaviors, and ongoing conditions;

(e) Statements of goals and plans for discharge including the entity to whom the youth will be discharged and the proposed date of discharge;

(f) Statements of the types of discipline that should be employed when necessary; and

(g) Statements of any restrictions of communications or visitations with any persons; such statements shall clearly show that the health, safety, and welfare of the resident would be adversely affected by such communications or visits.

(10) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Service Plan. The resident must be involved in the development of the service and room, board and watchful oversight plans, and its periodic updates as described below. For minor residents, the parent(s) or legal guardian(s), or child placing agency representative shall also be involved. The home must provide a copy or summary of the service plan to the resident and the parents or managing conservator of a minor resident. The involvement in and receipt of the service plan shall be documented by signature.

(11) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Service Plan. The service and room, board and watchful oversight plan shall be updated by the human services professional at a minimum of every month and following any significant change in circumstances including childbirth. Pertinent progress notes and data shall be incorporated in the plan to measure attainment of stated goals and objectives.

(a) The resident's primary direct care staff shall participate in updating the service and room, board and watchful oversight plan.

(b) The home shall be responsible for implementing the service and room, board and watchful oversight plan.

(12) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Discharge. The human services professional shall develop and implement a discharge plan for the resident that includes living arrangements, employment and/or school. It is the human services professional's responsibility to assist the resident directly or through referral to another agency when she needs help in these areas.

(13) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Discharge. The home must involve the resident and if applicable, the parents or legal guardians of the resident in discharge planning.

(14) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Discharge. During a resident's placement in a home, the preliminary plans for discharge shall be adjusted according to the resident's circumstances. At least two (2) months prior to planned discharge, except in cases of emergency discharges, a home shall formulate an aftercare plan that identifies the supports and resources that the resident and resident's family are expected to need following discharge. When a resident is being discharged for placement in another home or similar program, the receiving home or program, except in cases of emergency discharges, shall be given at least 14 days notice of the proposed date of placement.

(15) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Discharge. Emergency discharges are authorized when the health and safety of the resident or other residents in residence might be endangered by the resident's further placement in the home. At least 72 hours of prior notice of discharge shall be provided to the resident, parent(s) or legal guardian(s), or placement agency. If such notice is not possible, the reasons shall be documented in the resident's case record.

(16) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Discharge. Program participants may be terminated for repeated failure to fulfill resident responsibilities. Participants will receive a minimum of 14 days written notice of intent to terminate, during which time the resident may remain in the program with her child(ren), unless safety concerns are identified.

(17) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Discharge. When a resident is discharged, a home shall compile a complete written discharge summary within 30 days of the discharge. Such summary shall include:

(a) The name, address, telephone number and relationship of the person or entity to whom the resident was discharged, or the name of the placing agency if discharged to a placement agency;

(b) The date and circumstances of the resident's discharge must be documented in the resident's record;

(c) A summary of all the services provided for the resident to meet assessed needs while the resident was in the home;

(d) A summary of the resident's and the family's goals and objectives and accomplishments during care;

(e) A summary of any problems encountered by the resident and the family during care and;

(f) A summary of assessed needs which were not met during care, and a summary of the reasons why they were not met.

(18) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Discharge. Upon discharge, the home must inform residents of how long and where resident records will be maintained. A copy of the completed discharge summary shall be made available to the resident, and if applicable, her parent(s), legal guardian(s), or placement agency representative when it is completed.

(19) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Casework Services. All residents in care and families and legal guardians of residents in care shall receive case work services as provided in their service plan from their assigned human services professional or other appropriate professionals who shall meet with and counsel with the residents. The results of such counseling shall be recorded in the resident's case records. The purpose of such services are to identify and monitor the resident's progress relative to the needs, goals and objectives identified in assessments and service plans and to discuss any problems being encountered by or with the residents in care.

(20) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Educational and Vocational Services. A home shall not admit a resident unless an educational program commensurate with the specific educational and vocational needs of the resident can be provided.

(21) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Educational and Vocational Services. Provisions shall be made for mandatory education of all residents in care in accordance with O.C.G.A. 20-2-690et seq. or its successor statute. For purposes of these rules, an on-campus school is defined as a private school, and must be in compliance with the above law.

(22) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Educational and Vocational Services. A resident's assigned human services professional shall monitor the resident's educational or vocational progress in the course of providing case work services and planning. Progress reports, such as report cards, and other records or documentation of a resident's educational or vocational performance while residing in the home shall be maintained in the resident's case record.

(23) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Educational and Vocational Services. Residents attending public schools who wish to participate in extracurricular activities shall be provided such reasonable opportunities by the home in accordance with the resident's service plan.

(24) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Educational and Vocational Services. Residents' daily activities as stated in their service plans shall provide for study time during the periods the residents are attending school.

(25) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Other Services Counseling. The home must ensure that counseling about the different options regarding pregnancy is available to residents.

(26) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Other Services Counseling. The home must ensure that residents have information, training, and counseling available regarding health aspects of pregnancy, preparation for childbirth, and recovery from childbirth.

(27) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Other Services. Recreation and Leisure. The home shall provide for a program of indoor and outdoor recreational and leisure activities. When providing these activities, it shall utilize the community's cultural, social, and recreational resources whenever possible and appropriate. Residents' activities as stated in their service plans shall provide for leisure and recreational time. A home shall procure and maintain a variety of recreational and leisure equipment and supplies such as games, sporting equipment, reading materials, and art supplies.

(28) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Other Services. Correspondence.The home shall not infringe on the resident's privilege of writing and receiving uncensored mail and visits from her family. Visits from her family may be limited, in accordance with the service plan.

(29) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Other Services. Clothing. The home shall ensure that all residents have adequate, properly fitting, seasonable clothing as required for health, comfort, physical well-being., and individual needs.

(30) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Other ServicesDaily routines of residents shall provide for appropriate personal care, privacy, hygiene, and grooming commensurate with age, gender, and cultural heritage. All necessary toiletry items and supplies, such as and not limited to, soap, shampoo, hair brushes, toothbrushes and paste, deodorant, lotion, and bath towels, shall be provided.

(31) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Other Services. Residents shall not be held solely responsible for the accomplishments of any work activity of the home such as food preparation, laundering, housekeeping, or home maintenance. Residents shall not be considered substitutes for employed staff.

(32) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Other Services. Residents shall not be used for the purposes of soliciting funds for the home, nor shall residents be used in connection with any advertisement or publicity without the consent of the resident or legal guardian(s).

(33) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Other Services. Religious Services. Residents shall be permitted to participate in religious and cultural activities in accordance with their cultural and ethnic heritage.

(34) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Other Services Child Care No resident shall be responsible for the care of another resident for any period of time unless staff is present. In accordance with her service plan, a birth mother can assume responsibility for her child(ren).

(35) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Infant Care. All infants, particularly during the first 48 hours in the home shall be closely observed by the residential care staff.

(36) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Infant Care. Infants shall be held by a nurse, attendant, or resident while being fed.

(37) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Infant Care. A separate room or space shall be provided for preparation of milk mixtures, other foods and water. Provisions shall be made for sterilizing utensils, bottles, and nipples, and adequate refrigeration for storing of milk and food.

(38) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Infant Care. All formulas and changes in feeding shall be approved by the physician.

(39) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Infant Care. A resident who wishes to give personal attention to her infant, such as bathing and feeding, shall be permitted to do so. A resident who does not wish to see her child shall not be required to do so.

(40) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Infant Care. No visitor shall be permitted to see the infant except in accordance with the service plan.

(41) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Infant Care. The home shall not keep an infant longer than is necessary to make proper and sound plans for his or her care elsewhere.

(42) Basic Maternity Home Programs. Infant Care. An infant shall be discharged only to the following:

(a) His or her parent or legal guardian or

(b) A licensed child-placing agency.

O.C.G.A. Secs. 49-5-3, 49-5-8.

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