Idaho Administrative Code › Title IDAPA 16 - Health and Welfare, Department of › Rule 16.04.18 - CHILDREN'S AGENCIES AND RESIDENTIAL LICENSING › CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES › Section 16.04.18.458 - BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT AND DISCIPLINE POLICY

Current through August 31, 2023
01.
Documentation
. An organization must explain the policy to the
				child considering their age and level of understanding. The parents or
				guardians and child will sign the policy acknowledging receipt.
				(4-6-23)
02.
Behavior
				Management
. An organization must have and follow a behavior management
				and discipline policy for children that identifies appropriate and specific
				methods and ensures that these methods are positive and consistent.
				Individualized behavior management must be based on an assessment of the
				child's needs, stage of development, and behavior to promote self-control,
				self-direction, self-esteem, and an acceptable pattern of social behavior
				appropriate to the child's age and development level. The policy must include
				the concept and application of least-restrictive effective treatment and
				positive reinforcements and prohibit the following: (4-6-23)
a. Physical force, except for physical
				restraint intervention; (4-6-23)
b.
				Any kind of punishment inflicted on the body, including spanking, hitting,
				slapping, spitting, kicking, shaking, pulling hair, pinching skin, twisting an
				arm or leg in a way that would cause pain or injury, kneeling or sitting on the
				chest, placing a choke hold, bending back a finger, and shoving or pushing a
				child into the wall, floor, or other stationary object; (4-6-23)
c. Cruel and unusual physical exercise,
				including forcing the child to take an uncomfortable position;
				(4-6-23)
d. Verbal abuse, ridicule,
				humiliation, profanity, and other forms of degradation directed at a child or a
				child's family; (4-6-23)
e.
				Confinement in an area except an area approved by the Department for
				confinement of a child as provided under these rules; (4-6-23)
f. Withholding of necessary food, clothing,
				bedding, rest, toilet use, bathing facilities, and entrance to the facility;
				(4-6-23)
g. Denial of visits or
				communication with the child's family, except as specified in the child's
				service plan or court order; (4-6-23)
h. Denial of necessary educational, medical,
				counseling, and social services; (4-6-23)
i. Disciplining a group of children or
				another child for the actions of one (1) child, unless the organization's
				policies and procedures for group behavior management and discipline are based
				on a nationally recognized peer group treatment model and clearly prescribe the
				circumstances and safeguards under which group discipline is allowed, and the
				discipline is supervised directly by staff; (4-6-23)
j. The placing of anything in or on a child's
				mouth; (4-6-23)
k. A physical work
				assignment that produces unreasonable discomfort; (4-6-23)
l. Requiring cold showers or otherwise using
				water as a form of behavior management; (4-6-23)
m. Requiring an individual to remain silent
				for long periods for the purpose of behavior management; (4-6-23)
n. Extensive withholding of emotional
				response or stimulation; (4-6-23)
o. Exploitation which includes, but is not
				limited to: (4-6-23)
i. Using a child's
				property without their consent or using a child's property in a way that is
				contrary to their best interests, such as expending a child's funds for the
				benefit of another; or (4-6-23)
ii.
				Accepting gifts in exchange for preferential treatment of a child or in
				exchange for services that the facility is already obliged to provide to the
				child. (4-6-23)
p.
				Failure to provide adequate supervision, including situations where the
				facility's employee or volunteer is asleep or ill on the job, or is impaired
				due to the use of alcohol or drugs; and (4-6-23)
q. Failure to provide care and treatment as
				prescribed by the child's services, program, or service plan.
				(4-6-23)