New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 14 - DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HYGIENE
Chapter XIV - Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
Part 605 - Operational Procedures Governing Implementation of the Youth Opportunity Program in the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
Section 605.5 - Eligibility and administrative oversite for program sites

Universal Citation: 14 NY Comp Codes Rules and Regs § 605.5

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024

(a) The DDSO's (Developmental Disabilities Service Office) or local administrative sites shall be recruited based on their willingness to participate in the program. This means that the DDSO director is interested in making an investment of staff time and physical space in exchange for the benefits received from the YOP student interns. In addition, participating DDSO's shall actively promote a spirit of team work among its regular employees and the YOP program student interns. Team work means a close, cooperative and honest working relationship between the YOP student interns, employees and the persons who are receiving services.

(b) DDSO's become participants in the Youth Opportunity Program by sending a letter of interest to the program director of the YOP program. The selection of a participating DDSO shall be made based on the willingness to participate, as well as the needs of the local community. The program director of the YOP program shall coordinate the implementation of the YOP at each DDSO and the specific job-sites.

(c) The DDSO program supervisor shall be responsible for coordinating the program activities within its specific service area (including those DDSOs' participating in the partnership with OMH), recruiting students, placing students in appropriate positions, offering training programs, and other program activities.

(d) The DDSO shall be responsible to the YOP program director's office which has the major responsibility for overall program services.

(e) Participating DDSO's shall have the following responsibilities:

(1) In accepting a Youth Opportunity Program, the DDSO shall be cognizant of the program's commitment to provide training and meaningful work experiences that will have value beyond the immediate job.

(2) The DDSO shall provide office/work space for the program administration. This office/work space must be appropriate for individual meetings and counseling sessions with the students. A meeting or conference room shall be available to the program supervisor for weekly group meetings and other training sessions.

(3) The DDSO director shall, in conjunction with the YOP director, designate a regular employee as the program manager. This person shall be available to provide guidance to the YOP program supervisor and will facilitate correspondence required by the YOP program director's office.

(f) The program supervisor shall be recruited, hired, and trained by the YOP program director in coordination with the program manager at the DDSO. The DDSO and the YOP program director's office may select program supervisors from within or outside of State service. Persons selected as program supervisors shall be individuals with knowledge and experience who have demonstrated a sensitivity to youth and a respect for the needs and interest of the targeted youth population.

(g) Each program supervisor is paid from YOP funds and shall be responsible for implementing the program on a daily basis. The program supervisor's responsibilities include working closely with the YOP program director's office, the staff, the student interns, community contacts, and the job-site supervisors to ensure that the program requirements are followed and that the student intern receive proper orientation and training. Program supervisor responsibilities include the following:

(1) Program supervisors shall maintain a list and description of all agencies within the community with which they have contact and from whom they receive referrals.

(2) Program supervisors shall be in continuous contact with community based agencies for the purposes of recruitment, as a referral source, for up-to-date funding, networking, sharing information, etc.

(3) Program supervisors shall maintain regular contact with school personnel including, but not limited to, the appropriate guidance staff or teachers. At least one contact shall occur every three months and all contacts shall be documented. Additionally, program supervisors shall develop the necessary mechanism by which they periodically review attendance reports from the school.

(4) Program supervisors shall provide all YOP student interns with an orientation to the program and the specific job-site before job placement. It is the responsibility of the program supervisor to ensure that training is completed by all YOP student interns.

(5) Program supervisors shall make certain that YOP student interns comply with all program, job-site, and agency regulations. Disciplinary actions taken against a YOP student intern shall be documented.

(h) The job-site supervisors are employees of the DDSO who supervise the student interns in their job assignments. The job-site supervisors shall be paid by the DDSO.

(i) Cooperation and coordination in the establishment of partnership sites between OPWDD and OMH shall be permitted. Partnership sites are those YOP sites, where due to the proximity of DDSO facilities and OMH psychiatric centers, the YOP has the ability to offer student interns a wider range of job opportunities and occupational experiences in serving persons with mental illness. In these instances, the partnership sites YOP student interns shall be the responsibility of the local OPWDD program supervisor.

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