Section 246-930-336 - Contacts with victims and children by clients(1) The provider or affiliate shall recognize that supervision during contact with children is critical for those clients who have had crimes against children, or have the potential to abuse children. When authorizing clients to have contact with victims or children, the provider or affiliate shall:(a) Consider the victim's wishes about contact and reasonably ensure that all contact is safe and in accordance with court directives;(b) Restrict, as necessary, client decision-making authority over victims and children;(c) Collaborate with other relevant professionals about contact with victims prior to authorizing client contact with children, rather than making isolated decisions;(d) Consult with the victim's parents, custodial parents, or guardians prior to authorizing any contact between clients and children;(e) Include educational experiences for chaperones/ supervisors of clients; and(f) Devise a plan/protocol for reuniting or returning clients to homes where children reside. This plan/protocol must emphasize child safety, and provide for some monitoring of the impact to the victim and other children.(2) While the rationale behind the standards for clients in subsection (1)(a) through (f) of this section is equally relevant for juvenile clients, there are some substantial differences that warrant specific standards. The prohibitions on contact with children are not intended to prohibit reasonable peer-age social or educational contacts for juvenile clients. Providers or affiliates working with juvenile clients have limited authority over their clients, in that they have limited authority to govern the decisions or supervision of a juvenile client's parents. Reasonable and practical supervision plans/strategies for juvenile clients require the cooperation and involvement of parents, foster parents, group home staff, and the supervising officer. Providers and affiliates shall work in collaboration with the supervising officer to: (a) Establish reasonable guidelines for contacts with victims or children commensurate with the client's offending history, treatment progress, and the current disposition order;(b) Make reasonable efforts to advise, inform, and educate adults who will be in contact with and responsible for the client's behavior around victims or children;(c) Restrict, as necessary, client decision-making authority over victims and children;(d) Devise plans/protocols for reuniting or returning clients to homes where the victim or other children reside, specifically considering the victim's wishes and victim impact of reunification;(e) Closely scrutinize victim requests for client contact to ensure the request is free of emotional strain and is in the victim's best interests; and(f) Follow court ordered no contact provisions, or seek modification of court ordered restrictions if appropriate.Wash. Admin. Code § 246-930-336
Statutory Authority: RCW 18.155.040. 07-09-092, § 246-930-336, filed 4/18/07, effective 5/19/07.