North Dakota Administrative Code
Title 75 - Department of Human Services
Article 75-03 - Community Services
Chapter 75-03-40 - Licensing of Qualified Residential Treatment Program Providers
Section 75-03-40-32 - Respite

1. Eligibility. Residents eligible for respite care offered by an approved facility include a child in foster care in public custody and a former qualified residential treatment program resident engaged in the six-month aftercare.

2. Admission and discharge. A facility operating a respite care program shall have the written policies and procedures for admissions and discharge for respite care, including eligibility into the respite program, admissions criteria, required belongings, medications needed upon admission, required identification documentation, authorizations needed, written consents for emergency medical care, medications, and discharge planning.

3. Staffing. A facility shall assign an employee to have primary responsibility for the facility's respite care program. Employee-to-resident ratios at a minimum, must meet the ratio as described in this chapter for direct care.

4. Program and services. A facility respite program must be developed which allows for a short-term refocus of service delivery and supports for a community placement. Respite care placements are exempt from the medical examination requirements due to the short period of stay.

5. Respite care plan. A facility shall develop an abbreviated plan for each resident admitted to the facility for respite care. The abbreviated plan must provide for services to meet social, emotional, medical, and dietary needs. The respite plan must address daily routine, engagement in recreational activities, ongoing education, and discharge planning. The respite plan may include a list of facility-based and community-based services and supports the resident and family is currently receiving or will receive upon discharge.

6. Length of stay. A respite care placement may not extend beyond seven days per episode.

7. Discharge. When a resident is discharged from respite care, the facility shall document in the resident's respite file the dates of the resident's stay, a summary of the resident's stay, the name of the person to whom the resident was discharged, and a list of all personal belongings and medications that went with the resident upon discharge. A final plan must be provided to the custodian and parent or guardian upon discharge.

8. Respite resident file. A facility with a respite care program shall include: