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 290-2-5 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR CHILD CARING INSTITUTIONS
Rule 290-2-5-.12 - Child Care Services
Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 290-2-5-.12
Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024
(1) Casework Services. All children in care and families of children in care shall receive case work services as provided in their service plan from their assigned Human Services Professional or other appropriate professionals (internal and external of facility) who shall meet with and counsel with the children. The results of such counseling shall be recorded in the children's case records. The purposes of such services are to identify and monitor the children's and families' progress relative to the needs, goals and objectives identified in child care assessments and service plans and to discuss any problems being encountered by or with the children in care.
(2) Educational and Vocational Services. An institution shall not admit a child unless an educational program commensurate with the specific educational and vocational needs of the child can be provided.
(a) Provisions shall be made for mandatory education of all children 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.
(b) A child's assigned Human Services Professional shall monitor the child'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 child's educational or vocational performance while residing in the institution shall be maintained in the child's case record.
(c) Children attending public schools who wish to participate in extracurricular activities shall be provided such reasonable opportunities by the institution in accordance with the child's service plan.
(d) Children's daily activities as stated in their service plans shall provide for study time during the periods the children are attending school.
(3) Health Services. The facility shall provide for a comprehensive program of preventive, routine, and emergency medical and dental care for all children.
(a) Within thirty days of admission, an assessment of the children's medical and dental health shall be completed by the designated intake Human Services Professional.
1. A general physical examination of the child shall be provided within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) of admission unless such an examination has been completed within one year prior to admission.
(i) Such examination shall be done by a medical doctor, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner or public health department and shall include immunizations, vision and hearing tests, and basic diagnostic laboratory work, such as a Complete Blood Count (CBC) and basic urinalysis when recommended by a physician.
(ii) Required Immunization. All children shall have current immunizations as outlined in Rules and Regulations of the Department of Public Health, Immunization of School Children, Chapter 511-2-2.
2. A general dental examination of the child shall be provided for unless such an examination has been completed within six months prior to admission. Such examinations shall be done by either a dentist or a dental hygienist that is employed by the department and County Boards of Health to screen school pupils.
(b) An institution shall ensure that children receive timely, qualified medical and dental care when they are ill or injured and that they continue to receive necessary follow-up medical care. The child-caring institution shall take appropriate safety and sanitary precautions to ensure that underlying medical conditions are not exacerbated or infections not transmitted to others where required by the medical condition of the child. Arrangements shall be made with at least one physician and one dentist or a health care agency that provides physician and dental services for the medical care of the children. Children shall receive annual medical check-ups and semiannual dental check-ups.
(c) An institution shall ensure that children receive timely, qualified medical care in cases of medical emergencies (life-threatening, limb-threatening, or function-threatening conditions). Policies shall be in place for the emergency medical care of children with a local hospital or other health care facility that provides emergency services or with a local physician.
(d) Medications. The institutions shall develop and implement policies and procedures for the use and management of all types of medications. All direct care staff shall receive orientation on the policies and procedures. Such policies and procedures shall include the following:
1. Non-prescription medications. No child shall be given a non-prescription medication by staff members of the institution unless the child exhibits symptoms that the medication is designed to relieve.
2. Prescription medications. No child shall be given a prescription medication unless the medication is prescribed for the child by an authorized health care professional.
(i) Prescription medications shall only be given to a child as ordered in the child's prescription. An institution shall not permit such medications prescribed for one child to be given to any other child.
(ii) A child's attending physician shall be notified in cases of dosage errors, drug reactions, or if the prescription medication does not appear to be effective.
3. Psychotropic medications. No child shall be given psychotropic medications unless use is in accordance with the goals and objectives of the child's service plan developed by an external physician and/or MRO provider.
(i) Psychotropic medications must be prescribed by an external physician or MRO provider who has responsibility for the diagnosis and treatment of the child's conditions that necessitate such medication. Continued use of psychotropic medications shall be reviewed by the external prescribing Physician and/or MRO provider every sixty days.
(ii) Psychotropic medication shall only be given to a child as ordered in the child's prescription. An institution shall not permit such medications prescribed for one child to be given to another child.
(iii) The external prescribing physician and/or MRO provider shall be notified in cases of dosage errors, drug reactions, or if the psychotropic medication does not appear to be effective.
4. An institution shall designate and authorize classes of staff, such as Child Care Workers, to hand out medications and supervise the taking of medications. Only designated and authorized staff shall hand out and supervise the taking of medication.
5. An institution shall maintain a record of all medications administered by staff to include: name of child taking medication; name of prescribing physician and date of prescription (if the medication is prescription or psychotropic); required dosage; date and time taken, refused, or missed; dosage taken; and name and signature of staff member responsible for administering the medication.
6. All prescription and non-prescription medications shall be kept in a locked storage cabinet or container which is not accessible to the children and stored separate from cleaning chemicals and supplies or poisons. The keys to the locked cabinets or containers shall not be accessible to residents.
7. All expired medications shall be discarded and not handed out for use.
(e) First Aid Supplies. Each living unit shall have a first aid kit and instruction manual; such kit shall contain scissors, tweezers, gauze pads, adhesive tape, thermometer, assorted band-aids, antiseptic cleaning solution, and bandages.
(4) Recreation and Leisure. The institution 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. Children's activities as stated in their service plans shall provide for leisure and recreational time. An institution shall procure and maintain a variety of recreational and leisure equipment and supplies such as games, sporting equipment, reading materials, and art supplies.
(5) Other Services.
(a) The institution shall ensure that all children have adequate, properly fitting, seasonable clothing as required for health, comfort and physical well-being. Clothes shall be appropriate to age, gender, and individual needs.
(b) Daily routines of children shall provide for appropriate personal care, hygiene, and grooming commensurate with age, gender, and cultural heritage. All necessary toiletry items and supplies, such as soap, shampoo, hair brushes, tooth brushes and paste, deodorant, and bath towels, shall be provided.
(c) Children shall not be held solely responsible for the accomplishments of any work activity of the institution such as food preparation, laundering, housekeeping, or facility maintenance. Children shall not be considered substitutes for employed staff.
(d) Children shall not be used for the purposes of soliciting funds for the institution, nor shall children be used in connection with any advertisement or publicity without the consent of the child and the parent(s) or guardian(s).
(e) Children shall be permitted to participate in religious and cultural activities in accordance with their cultural and ethnic heritage.
O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-690.1, 49-5-8, 49-5-12.
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