Minnesota Administrative Rules

2960.0500 TRANSITIONAL SERVICES CERTIFICATION.

Subpart 1.

Purpose.

This part establishes the minimum standards that a transitional services program must meet to qualify for certification. A transitional services program provides congregate, scattered site, or cooperative housing for residents considered to be targeted youth.

Subp. 2.

Applicability.

This part governs a license holder who provides transitional services to residents.

Subp. 3.

License requirements.

A program certified under this part must meet the requirements of parts 2960.0010 to 2960.0120, except as noted in subpart 4.

Subp. 4.

Exemptions.

A transitional services program is exempt from the requirements of parts 2960.0070, subparts 4 and 5; 2960.0080, subparts 3, 4, items C to E, 5, 6, 8 to 13, and 15; 2960.0090, subpart 3; 2960.0120, subpart 2, items A, C, and G; and 2960.0130 to 2960.0220.

Subp. 5.

Description.

A transitional services program serves residents 16 to 21 years old according to the resident's independent living plan. Transitional services program services include housing, independent living skills training, and related supportive services. A transitional services program is designed to prepare a resident to live independently or reintegrate to a community setting following a stay in transitional housing. A resident may be housed in a community setting that includes individual or shared apartments, rental rooms, or other rental housing or in a congregate living program.

Subp. 6.

Statement of program outcomes.

The license holder must have written policies that identify program outcomes and promote the resident's development of independent living skills. The program services offered by the license holder must support the resident's reintegration into the community and be consistent with the resident's independent living plan.

Subp. 7.

Outcome measures.

The license holder must measure, at least quarterly, the outcomes of services provided to the resident by the license holder that were intended to promote the resident's development of independent living skills. The license holder must document the measurement of outcomes. The documentation must note:

A.

whether the provided services promoted the development of independent living skills;

B.

the extent to which the resident has developed independent living skills; and

C.

the license holder's success in achievement of the program outcomes identified according to subpart 6.

The commissioner of human services may require the license holder to measure specific factors related to the outcomes identified in subpart 6, and gather demographic information on residents.

Subp. 8.

Program effectiveness.

The license holder must monitor and annually evaluate the effectiveness of the facility's programs. The license holder must evaluate resident satisfaction with individual program services. The license holder must use the information gathered from the evaluations and program monitoring as a guide to improve program services.

Subp. 9.

Community involvement.

The facility must have a board of directors or advisory committee that represents the interests, concerns, and needs of the residents and community served by the facility. The license holder must meet the requirements of subparts 6 to 9 instead of the requirements of part 2960.0060.

Subp. 10.

Admission.

The license holder may admit persons to a transitional services program who are eligible for admission and meet the criteria in this subpart. The license holder must determine whether a resident meets the criteria in item A, B, or C, and part 2960.0070, subpart 2, prior to admission. The license holder must determine that:

A.

the resident must be leaving out-of-home placement, homeless, or at risk of homelessness;

B.

the resident must be employed or seeking employment or enrolled in an academic or vocational program; and

C.

youth who have the following behaviors will not be admitted to the program:

(1)

current drug or alcohol problems;

(2)

recent history of violent behavior; and

(3)

a mental health disorder or issue that is not being resolved through counseling or treatment.

The license holder must use the admission requirements of this subpart instead of the admission requirements in part 2960.0070, subparts 2 and 3, item B, subitem (8).

Subp. 11.

Criteria for termination of services.

The license holder, in conjunction with the resident, shall establish a service termination plan for the resident that specifies how services will be terminated and the actions to be performed by the involved agencies, including necessary referrals for other ongoing services.

Subp. 12.

Supervision standards.

The license holder must provide supervision according to items A to C.

A.

For a resident living in congregate or cooperative housing arrangements, the license holder must provide at least 12 hours of on-site supervision during weekday evening and early morning hours, to be increased to 16 hours of supervision on weekends.

B.

For a resident served by the transitional services program, the license holder must designate an on-call staff person who must be at least available by telephone or pager to respond to requests for assistance from a resident during hours when a staff person is not on site. A resident must be seen by a staff person at least three times per week. Each site where a resident resides must be visited by a staff person at least three times per week.

C.

The license holder must develop a supervision plan that is based on the youth served and approved by the licensing agency. Depending upon the assessment of the youth served by the program, the commissioner of human services may require the license holder to provide 24-hour supervision of residents.

Subp. 13.

Services required.

The license holder must provide the services or adequate access to the services in this subpart. The following services must be consistent with the resident's independent living plan:

A.

counseling services, to help individual residents and their families;

B.

job services, to help residents prepare for or secure employment;

C.

living skills training, to help a resident prepare for independent living;

D.

education services, to assist a resident to enroll in academic programs if the resident is not currently enrolled in a program; and

E.

related supportive services such as assistance in locating housing, budgeting, meal preparation, or other services, to meet the needs of the resident and improve the resident's ability to live independently.

Subp. 14.

Custodial minor parent programs.

In addition to the services in subpart 13, the following services or access to the following services must be available from the license holder for custodial parents:

A.

training in child development and parenting skills; and

B.

child care services or access to child care services when custodial parents are in school, at work, or otherwise unable to care for their children.

Subp. 15.

Residence.

The place of residence provided to a resident by the license holder must meet the needs of residents, including residents with disabilities.

Statutory Authority:

L 1995 c 226 art 3 s 60; MS s 241.021; 245A.03; 245A.09

History:

28 SR 211; L 2003 1Sp14 art 11 s 11

Published Electronically:

August 5, 2008