1. Youth receive
physical and mental health screenings in a confidential setting conducted by
detention facility staff upon admission to the facility. Female detention
facility staff are available to conduct the screening for females.
2. The admission screening is a brief
screening immediately upon arrival meant to detect any urgent health or mental
health issues and to identify ongoing health concerns that require immediate
attention, including the continuation of prescribed medication. The screening
reflects the different health issues in the male and female populations and
includes:
a. Inquiry into current and past
illnesses, and history of medical and mental health problems and conditions,
including:
i. Medical, dental, and
psychiatric/mental health problems (including all past mental health diagnoses,
treatment, and suicide attempts), and infectious and communicable diseases.
ii. Medications needed for ongoing
conditions and other special health needs.
iii. Allergies.
iv. Symptom screening for tuberculosis
including questions regarding cough, night sweats, weight loss, or recent
exposure to someone who might have tuberculosis.
v. Use of drugs or alcohol, including types,
methods of use, amounts, frequency, time of last use, previous history of
problems after ceased use, and any recent hiding of drugs in his/her
body.
vi. Recent injuries (e.g.,
injuries at or near the time of arrest).
vii. History of gynecological problems,
pregnancies, and current pregnancy status and related medical needs. viii.
Names and contact information for physicians and clinics treating youth in the
community, as well as health insurance information. ix. Name of an adult family
contact.
b. Observation
of:
i. Behavior and appearance, including
alcohol or drug intoxication, state of consciousness, mental status (including
suicidal ideation, emotional distress, or signs of depression), and sweating.
ii. Disabilities including vision,
hearing, mobility issues, and intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
iii. Condition of skin, including
evidence of trauma, bruises, lesions, jaundice, rash, infestation (e.g., lice,
scabies), and needle marks or other indications of drug use.
c. The facility uses a
standardized mental health screening instrument (such as the MAYSI) to identify
youth who may be at risk of suicide or who may need prompt mental health
services.
3. After
screening, staff promptly refer the following youth for needed services.
a. Youth who are unconscious, semiconscious,
bleeding, mentally unstable, intoxicated or withdrawing from drugs or alcohol,
or report having recently swallowed or ingested drugs, or otherwise in need of
urgent care are denied admission until released by appropriate medical
personnel.
b. Youth who are
identified in the screen as requiring additional medical services are
immediately referred and receive an expedited medical follow-up within 24 hours
or sooner if medically necessary.
c. Youth who are identified upon initial
screening or at a later date as having experienced prior sexual victimization
or who previously perpetrated sexual abuse are immediately referred and offered
a meeting with a Qualified Mental Health Professional within 24 hours.
d. Youth who are identified in the
screen as requiring additional mental health follow-up are immediately referred
and receive appropriate assessment by a QMHP within 24 hours or sooner if
necessary.
e. Youth admitted on
prescription medication shall continue to receive such medication as medically
appropriate.
4. Staff
provide documentation of:
a. Disposition of
the youth, such as referral to emergency medical or mental health care
services, placement in general population with later referral to health/mental
health care services, or placement in the general population.
b. The date and time screening is completed
and the signature and title of the person completing the screening.
c. Staff place youth identified in the
admissions screen as needing further evaluation of suicide risk or other acute
mental health conditions on observation at intervals not to exceed 10 minutes
until they can be formally evaluated by a QMHP. Staff directly and continuously
supervise any youth who has been identified at risk for suicide or self-harm
until a QMHP completes an assessment. Only a QMHP may remove a youth from
observation.
d. Youth who are
exhibiting active signs of suicide are on one-on-one supervision in which a
staff member is within reasonable proximity of the youth until the youth is
evaluated by a QMHP.
5.
Written policies, procedures, and actual practices, in conjunction with the
health authority ensure sufficient supervision of youth identified with
potential medical problems until youth receive health assessments.
Miss. Code Ann.
§§
43-21-901
to
43-21-915
(Rev. 2016).
