Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE
Residential Services
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
63E-7.002: Definitions
63E-7.009: Behavior Management
63E-7.010: Residential Case Management Services
63E-7.011: Delinquency Intervention and Treatment Services
63E-7.016: Program Administration
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The amendments incorporate the use of enhanced programming in the behavior management and delinquency intervention systems for residential programs. The amendments provide for the use of promising practices, found by research to reduce recidivism or address criminogenic need. Administration and staffing requirements are amended to facilitate the programming, and a form is updated.
SUMMARY: Amending rules governing behavior management, delinquency intervention and treatment services, and program administration in residential programs. The amendments facilitate the use of outcome-based programming in residential facilities.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 985.64, 985.601(3)(a) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 985.601(3) FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: DJJ Headquarters, 2737 Centerview Drive, General Counsel’s Conference Room 3223, Tallahassee, Florida. For information about participation by telephone, contact John Milla at (850)921-4129.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: John Milla, 2737 Centerview Dr., Ste. 3200, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3100, e-mail: john.milla@djj.state.fl.us

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

63E-7.002 Definitions.

For the purpose of this rule chapter, the following words shall have the meanings indicated.

(1) through (4) No change.

(5) Authority for Evaluation and Treatment (AET) – The document that, when signed by a parent or guardian, gives the department the authority to assume responsibility for the provision of necessary and appropriate physical and mental health care to a youth in the department’s physical custody. The Authority for Evaluation and Treatment (HS 002, December 2009 May 2007) is incorporated into this rule and is accessible electronically at http://www.djj.state.fl.us/forms/health_services_forms_index.html.

(6) through (24) No change.

(25) Director of Programming – The individual responsible for the overall management of delinquency intervention in the facility.

(25) through (64) renumbered (26) through (65) No change.

(66) Promising Practices for Delinquency Intervention – Manualized curricula that have been evaluated and found to reduce the likelihood of recidivism or at least one criminogenic need with a juvenile offending population. The evaluation must have used sound methodology, including, but not limited to, random assignment or quasi experimental design, use of control or comparison groups, valid and reliable measures, and appropriate analysis. Such studies shall provide evidence of statistically significant positive effects. In addition, there must be evidence that replication by different implementation teams at different sites is possible with similar positive outcomes.

(65) through (86) renumbered (67) through (88) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 20.316, 985.64, 985.601(3)(a) FS. Law Implemented 985.601(3)(a), 985.03(44), 985.441(1)(b) FS. History– New 9-30-07, Amended 8-25-08, 7-8-09, 12-21-09,________.

 

63E-7.009 Behavior Management.

(1) Consistent with its approach to treatment and delinquency intervention, a residential commitment program shall establish a behavior management system, utilizing practices with demonstrated effectiveness, that is responsive to the unique characteristics of the program’s population. Only someone with training or experience in behavior management techniques or systems shall develop or modify a program’s behavior management system. A program’s behavior management system shall foster accountability for behavior and compliance with the residential community’s rules and expectations.

(2) A residential commitment program’s behavior management system shall be described in writing and designed to:

(a) through (c) No change.

(d) Provide opportunities for positive reinforcement and recognition for accomplishments and positive behaviors at a minimum ratio of 4:1 positive to negative consequences;

(e) through (g) No change.

(h) Minimize separation of youth from the general population; and

(i) Complement the performance planning process, including coordination with any individual behavior plan when applicable. A copy of an individual behavior plan for any youth who has been identified as a client of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities will be provided to that agency; and.

(j) Assure consistent implementation and equitable treatment through the ongoing oversight and training of direct-care staff.

(3) through (5) No change.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 985.64, 985.601(3)(a), 20.316 FS. Law Implemented 985.601(3)(a), 985.03(44), 985.441(1)(b) FS. History–New 12-24-07, Amended 8-25-08,__________.

 

63E-7.010 Residential Case Management Services.

(1) through (8) No change.

(9) Performance Review and Reporting.

(a) Performance Reviews. A residential commitment program shall ensure that the intervention and treatment team reviews each youth’s performance, including RPACT reassessment results, progress on individualized performance plan goals, positive and negative behavior, including behavior that resulted in physical interventions, and if the youth has a treatment plan, treatment progress. Performance reviews shall result in revisions to the youth’s performance plan when determined necessary by the intervention and treatment team in accordance with paragraph 63E-7.010(6)(c), F.A.C., and reassessments when deemed necessary by the intervention and treatment team in accordance with paragraph 63E-7.010(5)(b), F.A.C.

1. through 2. No change.

3. The intervention and treatment team shall provide an opportunity for youth to demonstrate skills acquired in the program, and shall document each formal and informal performance review in the official youth case record, including the youth’s name, date of the review, meeting attendees, any input or comments from team members or others, and a brief synopsis of the youth’s progress in the program.

(b) Performance Reporting. The intervention and treatment team shall prepare a Performance Summary at 90-day intervals, beginning 90 days from the signing of the youth’s performance plan, or at shorter intervals when requested by the committing court. Additionally, the intervention and treatment team shall prepare a Performance Summary prior to the youth’s release, discharge or transfer from the program.

1. No change.

2. The staff member who prepared the Performance Summary, the intervention and treatment team leader, the program director or designee, and the youth shall review, sign and date the document. Prior to the youth signing the document, program staff shall give the youth an opportunity to add comments, providing assistance to the youth, if requested. The program shall distribute the performance summary plan as specified below within 10 working days of its signing.

a. through c. No change.

(10) through (12) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 985.64 FS. Law Implemented 985.601(3)(a) FS. History–New 12-9-08, Amended 12-21-09,_________.

 

63E-7.011 Delinquency Intervention and Treatment Services.

A residential commitment program shall provide delinquency intervention and treatment services that are gender-specific pursuant to Section 985.02, F.S., and that focus on preparing youth to live responsibly in the community upon release from the program. The program shall design its services and service delivery system based on the common characteristics of its primary target population, including age, gender, and special needs, and their impact on youths’ responsivity to intervention or treatment. However, in accordance with Rule 63E-7.010, F.A.C., the program shall individualize and coordinate the provision of delinquency intervention and treatment services based on each youth’s prioritized risk and needs as identified through the RPACT and document services delivered in the youth’s individual management record.

(1) No change.

(2) Delinquency Intervention Services.

(a) No change.

(b) Education and work experience shall be considered by the Director of Programming when determining staff delivery of delinquency intervention services.

(c)(b) A staff person whose regularly assigned job duties include implementation of a specific delinquency intervention model, strategy or curriculum shall receive training in its effective implementation.

(d)(c) A residential commitment program shall provide delinquency intervention services that include, at a minimum, the following:

1. No change.

2. Life and Social Skill Competency Development. The program shall provide interventions or instruction that focus on developing life and social skill competencies in youth. For purposes of this rule chapter, life skills are those skills that help youth to function more responsibly and successfully in everyday life situations, including social skills that specifically address interpersonal relationships. Non-clinical staff may implement life and social skills interventions or instruction under the supervision of the Director of Programming except when the instructional materials are specifically designed for use by clinical staff or when the skill training is delivered in response to a youth’s treatment plan, thereby requiring a clinician’s implementation. In a DJJ facility or program designated for Medicaid behavioral health overlay services (BHOS) or Medicaid fee-for-service, individuals providing Medicaid funded life skills or social skills shall meet the specific education and training requirements established by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), as may be found in the Florida Medicaid Community Behavioral Health Services Coverage and Limitations Handbook.

a. No change.

b. Direct care staff shall model prosocial behaviors for youth throughout the course of each day in the program, reinforce delinquency interventions, and guide and re-direct youth toward prosocial behaviors and positive choices. Additionally, staff shall engage youth in constructive dialogue to peacefully resolve conflict when it occurs or, if imminent safety and security issues delay intervention to resolve the conflict, as a follow-up process after safety and security are restored.

3. through 6. No change.

(e)(d) Rehabilitative Planning and Follow-up Requirements for Off-Campus Activities. A residential commitment program shall ensure that off-campus activities addressed in this subsection are purposeful, deliberately planned, and related to the rehabilitation of the participating youth. Programs shall comply with eligibility, risk classification, notification and approval, supervision, and other security requirements related to off-campus activities specified in subsection 63E-7.013(19), F.A.C. Additionally, the program shall comply with the following rehabilitative planning and follow-up requirements for youth participating in supervised off-campus activities, such as community service projects, field excursions and other transition-related activities, and unsupervised temporary release activities, such as community employment, or day activities and home visits with youths’ parents or guardians. However, the following requirements are not mandatory for supervised recreational off-campus activities earned by youth as incentives in accordance with the program’s behavior management system.

1. through 2. No change.

(3) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 985.64 FS. Law Implemented 985.601(3)(a) FS. History–New 12-9-08, Amended 12-21-09,__________.

 

63E-7.016 Program Administration.

(1) through (5) No change.

(6) A residential commitment program shall report as follows:

(a) through (c) No change.

(d) Posting of abuse reporting phone numbers throughout the facility and unhindered access for staff and youth to report abuse to the Department of Children and Family Services central abuse hotline addressed in Chapter 39, F.S., or if the allegedly abused youth is 18 years or older, the department’s Central Communication Center. For purposes of this rule, unhindered access means the program shall allow youth and staff to make the decision to report allegations of abuse without obtaining permission. The program shall provide youth with timely telephone access to report allegations of abuse without intimidation or reprisal. However, if the youth requests telephone access during a scheduled structured activity, the program shall provide access as soon as that activity concludes.

(7) through (12) No change.

(13) A residential commitment program shall establish a records management system that addresses all records maintained by the program including, but not limited to, administrative files, personnel records, fiscal and accounting records, property inventories, and records pertaining to youth.

(a) No change.

(b) The program shall clearly label each official youth case record, individual management record, and individual healthcare management record as confidential. All official youth case records shall be secured in a locked file cabinet or a locked room. The program shall clearly identify any file cabinet used to store official youth case records as confidential.

(c) through (d) No change.

(14) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 985.64 FS. Law Implemented 985.601(3)(a) FS. History–New 4-13-08, Amended 8-25-08, 12-21-09,________.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Darryl Olson, Assistant Secretary for Residential Services
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Frank Peterman, Jr., Secretary
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: January 12, 2010
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: December 18, 2009