New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 14 - DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HYGIENE
Chapter XIII - Office of Mental Health
Part 594 - Operation Of Licensed Housing Programs For Children And Adolescents With Serious Emotional Disturbances
Section 594.11 - Program requirements for licensed housing programs (excluding crisis residence programs)
Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
(a) A licensed housing program shall be designed to provide a family-like and therapeutic environment for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance. A licensed housing program shall be responsible for providing services in a safe environment to the youth which will allow for the eventual return to the family or, if appropriate, to acquire the skills and resources for independent living.
(b) A licensed housing program shall provide the following developmentally and age-appropriate services:
(c) The licensed housing program shall develop a plan for assuring continuity and integration of care within the mental health system, other systems of care, and the family, whenever appropriate. Such plan shall be supported by written agreements, as appropriate, with other providers of service. The plan shall be subject to approval by the Office of Mental Health and, at a minimum, shall address the following areas:
(d) A licensed housing program shall continuously employ an adequate number of professional and direct care staff to carry out its goals and objectives as well as to ensure the continuous provision of sufficient supervision. Each licensed housing program shall submit a staffing plan which includes at least one full-time employee who is a registered nurse for each eight-bed community residence and for each 12-bed teaching facility home and the qualifications and duties of each of the other staff positions by title.
(e) Staff of a licensed housing program shall be available to assist in emergencies on at least an on-call basis at all times.
(f) Each teaching family home program shall be composed of no more than five teaching family homes. Each program shall assign an appropriately trained, full-time teaching family couple and an assistant to each home.
(g) Each teaching family home program shall run regular consultative and training meetings for teaching parents and child care staff. Support groups and parent training shall also be offered to families.
(h) Each community residence, including a CREDIT program, shall employ at least two full-time equivalent direct care staff on duty during peak times which include early mornings, after school, early evenings, weekends and holidays, for a six-bed program. At least three full-time equivalent direct care staff shall be on duty during such times for an eight-bed program.
(i) Each community residence, including a CREDIT program, shall assign at least two direct care staff for overnight coverage to ensure that at least one staff person is on duty, (and is therefore awake) at all times.
(j) Additional requirements for community residences that are CREDIT programs.