419-490-0040 Therapeutic Boarding Schools: Room and Space Requirements A therapeutic boarding school must meet all of the following room and space requirements: (1) All parts of the facility must ensure the safety of the children in care. (2) Living area. A separate living room or lounge area must be available for the exclusive use of residents, employees, and invited guests with a minimum of 15 square feet per child in care. (3) Bedrooms. Bedrooms for children in care may not be exposed to drafts, odors, or noises that interfere with the health or safety of the occupants. Each bedroom must comply with all of the following requirements: (a) Have adequate furnishings and personal items for the children in care residing in them. (b) Be separate from the rooms used for dining, living, multi-purpose, laundry, kitchen, or storage. (c) Be an outside room, with a window allowing egress from the building. (d) Have a ceiling height of at least 90 inches. (e) Have a minimum of 60 square feet per bed. (f) House no more than 25 children in care in one room when a dormitory-style sleeping arrangement is used. (g) Have permanently-wired light fixtures located and maintained so as to give adequate light to all parts of the room. (h) Have a window covering on each window to ensure privacy. (i) Contain beds for children in care that meet both of the following requirements: (A) There must be at least three feet between beds, including trundle beds if used; and (B) Bunk beds, if used, must be maintained to ensure safety of the children in care. (4) Bathrooms. (a) Bathrooms must be provided and be conveniently located in each building containing a child in care's bedroom, and must have all of the following: (A) A minimum of one toilet for every eight children in care. (B) A minimum of one hand-washing sink with mixing faucets for each eight children in care. The sink may not be used for the preparation of food or drinks or for dish washing. (C) A self-closing metered faucet, if used, that provides water flow for at least 15 seconds without a need to reactivate the faucet. (D) Hot and cold running water, as well as soap and paper towels available at sinks, or, other hand-drying options approved by the local health department. (E) One bathtub or shower for every 10 children in care. (F) Arrangements for individual privacy for each child in care. (G) A window covering on each window to ensure privacy. (H) Permanently-wired light fixtures located and maintained so as to give adequate light to all parts of the room. (I) Adequate ventilation. (J) Have adequate personal items for children in care. (b) Use of wooden racks over shower floors is prohibited. (c) When impervious shower mats are used, they must be disinfected and dried at least once per day. (5) Dining area. A separate dining room or area must be provided for the exclusive use of children in care, employees, and invited guests. The dining area must have the capacity to seat at least one-half of the children in care at one time and must contain a minimum of 15 square feet per child in care. (6) Kitchen. (a) Kitchens must be used exclusively for storage, food preparation, dish washing, and other activities related to eating and may not, except as provided in OAR 419-490-0080, be used for children in care's activities other than eating. (b) The walls, floors, and floor coverings of all rooms in which food or drink is prepared or stored or utensils are washed or stored must be smooth, washable, and easily cleanable. (c) All equipment and utensils used for food service, including plastic ware and food-contact surfaces, must be easily cleanable, durable, nontoxic, and nonabsorbent, and must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. (d) All equipment used for food preparation must be installed and maintained in a manner that provides ease of cleaning beneath, between, and behind each unit. (7) Laundry area. Laundry facilities, when provided, must be separate from all of the following: (a) Living areas, including bedrooms for children in care. (b) Kitchen and dining areas. (c) Areas used for the storage of un-refrigerated perishable food. (8) Storage. Separate storage areas must be provided for each of the following: (a) Food, kitchen supplies, and utensils. (b) Clean linens. (c) Soiled linens and clothing. (d) Cleaning compounds and equipment. (e) Poisons, chemicals, pest and rodent control products, insecticides, and other toxic materials that must be properly labeled, stored in the original container, and kept in a locked storage area. (f) Outdoor recreational and maintenance equipment. (9) Outdoor activity area. A usable out-of-doors activity area must be provided that is: (a) Protected from vehicular traffic and other hazards; and (b) Of a size and availability appropriate to the age and needs of the children in care. (10) Classrooms and school buildings, if used, must be adequate in size and arrangement for the programs offered. (11) Time-out rooms. Rooms used for time out or quiet time must have adequate space, heat, light and ventilation and must not be capable of locking. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 409.050, ORS 418.005, ORS 418.327 & ORS 418.240 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 418.205 - 418.327 History: OTIS 71-2023, minor correction filed 06/08/2023, effective 06/08/2023 CWP 26-2022, renumbered from 413-215-0618, filed 11/28/2022, effective 12/01/2022 CWP 35-2020, minor correction filed 01/14/2020, effective 01/14/2020 CWP 22-2016, f. & cert. ef. 12-1-16