Statutes, codes, and regulations
West Virginia Administrative Code
Agency 78 - Human ServicesTitle 78 - LEGISLATIVE RULE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUREAU FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
Series 78-03 - Minimum Licensing Requirements for Residential Child Care and Treatment Facilities for Children and Transitioning Adults and Vulnerable and Transitioning Youth Group Homes and Programs in West Virginia
Section 78-3-19 - High-Quality Group Residential Child Care Programs for Vulnerable Children

W. Va. Code R. § 78-3-19

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Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 42, October 18, 2024
Section 78-3-19 - High-Quality Group Residential Child Care Programs for Vulnerable Children
19.1. Staffing and Training.
19.1.1. In addition to the requirements for employee training prescribed in section 11 of this rule, all employees shall be trained on prudent parenting standards and on interacting with victims of sex trafficking;
19.1.2. The agency shall have, at a minimum, at least one staff member on-site who is authorized to apply the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions involving the participation of the child in age or developmentally appropriate activities;
19.1.3. The agency shall provide a nationally recognized behavioral health program for known victims of sex trafficking;
19.1.4. Children shall be cared for and supervised at the following levels:
19.1.4.a. A minimum of employee-to-child ratio of 1-to-6 shall be maintained during waking hours when children are on the grounds with a minimum of one employee present per residential living unit at all times when children are present in the living unit;
19.1.4.b. Additional or back-up care employees shall be available for emergency situations or to meet special needs presented by the persons in care; and
19.1.4.c. A minimum employee-to-child ratio of 1-to-12 shall be maintained during sleeping hours with a minimum, of at least one employee per residential living unit to be awake at all times when children are present in the living unit.
19.2. Service Elements.
19.2.1. The organization shall provide sex trafficking prevention programming for all children placed that shall include the following components:
19.2.1.a. Education about sex trafficking (what it is and prevalence);
19.2.1.b. Understanding one's vulnerabilities and how to protect self from traffickers;
19.2.1.c. Enhancement of existing support system (family, friends, community);
19.2.1.d. Development of support system when one does not exist;
19.2.1.e. Service linkage, as needed, for housing, homelessness prevention, educational support;
19.2.1.f. Runaway prevention programming.
19.2.2. The programming will provide opportunities for children to experience some of the same normalizing experiences as their peers not in foster care.

W. Va. Code R. § 78-3-19