Alabama Administrative Code › Title 660 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES › Chapter 660-5-49 - BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT › Section 660-5-49-.02 - Introduction

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1)
Purpose
- This policy is designed to
			 serve several functions for children, their families, DHR and provider staff
			 when behavior management interventions are deemed necessary for children to
			 manage existing or learn new behaviors. These functions are the identification
			 of general guidelines for behavior management interventions; a description of
			 interventions which may be utilized when helping children manage existing or
			 learn new behaviors; the identification of prohibited interventions; and the
			 provision of guidelines and procedures for managing behaviors through the
			 development of behavior management plans which use interventions that are in
			 accordance with generally accepted professional standards. Provider
			 responsibilities for behavior management are included in this policy as
			 guidelines to follow when serving DHR children.
(2)
Glossary
:
Various terms used in this
			 policy are described below:
(a)
Advocacy
- The promotion of governmental
			 and agency responsiveness to individual and class needs.
(b)
Age-Appropriate
			 Child
- A child age 10 and older (except a child with
			 severe mental retardation) or a child under age 10 who is intellectually
			 capable of understanding and communicating ideas and opinions concerning the
			 subject matter being discussed or considered.
(c)
Antecedent
- An event or any series of
			 events ("reasons," "causes," or "prior learning") that contributes to a
			 behavior's occurrence or frequency.
(d)
Behavior
			 Management
- Treatment interventions that teach or increase
			 the frequency of desirable behaviors and/or modify or extinguish undesirable
			 behaviors by using reinforcers and/or punishments or altering or controlling
			 the environment and other events or conditioners affecting behavior.
(e)
Child and Family
			 Planning Team
- The individuals involved in the planning
			 and/or delivery of services for a child and family.
(f)
Consequences
- An event following a
			 behavior which is used in managing the behavior and teaching
			 self-regulation.
(g)
Crisis
- A situation where seclusion,
			 restraint, or medication is used to protect children from a behavior which
			 could seriously harm the child, harm others or cause substantial property
			 damage
and
an appropriate Qualified Child Care
			 Professional (QCCP) is not available to examine the child and assess the
			 child's physical and psychological condition.
(h)
Crisis
			 Plan
- A plan developed in partnership with the
			 age-appropriate child and the family to protect the child in the event a
			 behavior is displayed which could harm the child, harm others or cause
			 substantial property damage.
(i)
Discipline
- The process of teaching a
			 child healthy behaviors by responding to the behaviors in a manner that
			 develops and promotes self-control and self-esteem.
(j)
Isolation
- The physical placement of a
			 child in an unlocked room for a time-limited period including isolation of a
			 child in an unlocked room other than the child's own room; isolation of a child
			 age 10 or over in his or her own room for more than two hours; isolation of a
			 child under age 10 in his or her own room for more than one hour; and repeated
			 confinement of a child in his or her room or any other room (including
			 time-out) that subjects the child to lengthy social isolation.
(k)
Medication
- Drugs prescribed for their
			 effect on mood thought or behavior excluding non-psychotropic drugs such as
			 those prescribed for physical conditions (e.g., antibiotics,
			 insulin).
(l)
Provider
- Any individual, agency, or
			 organization that utilizes behavior management interventions while serving
			 children in the custody and/or planning responsibility or the Department of
			 Human Resources.
(m)
Punishment
- Taking away something
			 desirable or adding something undesirable to cause a decrease in the occurrence
			 of a behavior.
(n)
Qualified Child Care Professional (QCCP)
- the following individuals may serve as QCCPs:
1. A licensed medical doctor with three years
			 residence training in psychiatry;
2. A physician licensed to practice in the
			 state of Alabama, with either specialized training or one year's experience in
			 working with children in out-of-home placements;
3. A psychologist with a doctoral or master's
			 degree from an accredited program who has either specialized training or one
			 year's experience in working with children in out-of-home placements;
4. A social worker or professional counselor
			 with a master's degree from an accredited program (and licensed in the state of
			 Alabama) who has either specialized training or one year's experience in
			 working with children in out-of-home placements;
5. A registered nurse with (a) a graduate
			 degree in psychiatric nursing, (b) a concentration in pediatric nursing or (c)
			 one year's experience in working with children in out-of-home placements;
			 or
6. A child care professional
			 with a graduate degree in child development or human development who has either
			 specialized training or one year's experience in working with children in
			 out-of-home placements.
(o)
Reinforcer
- A response, such as praise
			 or a tangible reward, that strengthens a desired behavior. Reinforcers can also
			 involve taking away something undesirable (i.e. room restriction) to increase
			 the likelihood of appropriate behavior.
(p)
Restraint
- Limiting or restricting a
			 child's freedom of movement or use of the limbs. It includes Mechanical
			 Restraint which is restricting a child's freedom of movement or use of limbs or
			 body by applying devices such as cuffs, ties, nets, tubes, bags, straps, head
			 gear, etc.; and Physical Restraint which is restricting a child's freedom of
			 movement by physically holding the child for an extended period of time or
			 repeatedly over time.
(q)
Reward
- A response given to acknowledge
			 and support desired behavior.
(r)
Safety
- The condition or state of being
			 free and/or secure from reasonable or foreseeable harm, danger, or
			 injury.
(s)
Seclusion
- The isolation of a child in a
			 locked seclusion room, a locked time-out-room, or any other locked room or
			 place of confinement.