North Dakota Administrative Code
Title 75 - Department of Human Services
Article 75-03 - Community Services
Chapter 75-03-17 - Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities for Children
Section 75-03-17-15 - Staff-to-child ratio

1. The ratio of employee to children must meet the standards of the facility's accredited body and be included in the facility's policies and procedures. The facility shall follow the employee-to-child ratio set by its accrediting body, or the ratios set forth in this subsection, if the ratios set forth in this subsection require a greater number of employee to children than the ratios set by the accrediting body. The employee-to-child ratio on the premises during waking hours Monday through Friday is dependent on the needs of the children and the requirements of the individual person-centered treatment plans, but may not be less than:

2. On evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays, during non-programming hours, the ratio of employees to children is dependent on the needs of the children and the requirements of the individual person-centered treatment plans. Additionally, the ratio of employee-to-children must meet the minimum standards of the accrediting body but may not be less than two employees on premises qualified to provide direct care. The facility shall implement a policy that if there is an emergency, and additional employees are not available to respond to the facility within fifteen minutes, the facility will call for law enforcement or emergency medical assistance.

3. All night employees must be awake and within hearing distance of children. Employees shall perform bedroom checks at a minimum of every fifteen minutes to assure that each sleeping child is in that child's assigned room and is safe.