Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 24 - Mental Health
Part 2 - Operational Standards for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Community Service Providers
Chapter 40 - Respite Care for Children/Youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance
Rule 24-2-40.1 - Service Design

A. Respite is short-term planned relief care in the home or community for children/youth with serious emotional/behavioral disturbances or mental health challenges. This service offers time-out for caregivers and children/youth, helping family members to cope with their responsibilities, to rest and regroup, facilitate stability, and feel less isolated from the community, family and friends. The provision of services is community-based, culturally competent, and child-centered with the family participating in all decision-making.

B. A person with, at a minimum, a Master's degree in a mental health or closely related field, must be designated to plan and supervise respite services. The supervisor can also have administrative or other supervisory responsibility for other services or service locations.

C. Agency providers of Respite Services must maintain documentation of linkages with other health and social service agencies, particularly those that serve children/youth.

D. Respite Services must be available a minimum of once per month for up to the number of hours per month determined necessary, based on individual needs of the child/youth and his/her family.

E. The service must implement behavior management approaches that utilize positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviors. Documentation must be maintained that respite service agency providers have received all required training for new and/or existing employees/volunteers specified in Part 2: Chapter 12.