Rule 290-2-18-.01 - Introduction and Definition(1) The Children and Youth Act passed by the General Assembly of Georgia in 1963 placed the responsibility for the licensing of Maternity Homes with the Division for Children and Youth for the former Department of Family and Children Services, now succeeded by the Division of Community Services of the Department of Human Resources.(2) A Maternity Home is defined in this Act as "any place in which any person, society, agency, corporation, or facility receives, treats, or cares for, within a period of six (6) months, more than one (1) illegitimately pregnant woman, either before, during or within two (2) weeks after childbirth. This definition shall not include women who receive maternity care in the home of a relative, or in general or special hospitals licensed according to law, in which maternity treatment and care is part of the medical services performed and the care of children is only brief and incidental."(3) The Minimum Requirements and Desirable Standards for providing Maternity Home Care in Georgia were developed with the cooperation of the agencies concerned after careful study of those developed by other states and national organizations. They were reviewed and approved by the State Board for Children and Youth on September 24, 1963.(4) Licensing of Maternity Homes is considered to be a mutual process with the agencies and the Division working cooperatively together for the welfare of mothers and children who present special problems and special needs. These standards were designed to serve as a basis for licensing and as a guide to the Maternity Homes and the Division in their work together for better care and services. The word "shall" denotes a minimum requirement which all Maternity Homes must meet. The word "should" denotes a desirable standard.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-18-.01
Ga. L. 1963, pp. 81-121; Ga. L. 1972, pp. 1015, 1046, 1048.
Original Rule entitled "Introduction and Definition" was filed on October 21, 1974; effective November 10, 1974.