Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 18 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part 7 - Division of Family & Children Services Licensing Requirements › Chapter 1 - Licensing Requirements Manual for Residential Child Caring and Child Placing Agencies › Section 18-7-1-IX - REQUIREMENTS FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER CARE FACILITIES

Current through June 25, 2024
The requirements for Residential/Group Home which pertain to
				  the care of children prescribed under other sections of this document shall be
				  followed. In addition, there shall be compliance with the following specific
				  requirements for emergency shelter care facilities.
A.
Admission and
				Planning:
1. The shelter
				care agency shall develop, with the Department, a plan for the temporary care
				of the children including the anticipated length of stay.
2. Children under ten (10) years of age shall
				not be placed in a congregate care setting (including group residential homes
				and shelters), unless the child has exceptional needs that cannot be met in
				another placement or the child is a member of a sibling group and express
				written approval is granted by the Department's Regional Director or designee.
				Sibling groups with one or more siblings under ten (10) years of age shall not
				remain in congregate care settings for more than forty-five (45)
				days.
3. For children who stay more
				than three (3) days, the shelter care facility shall cooperate with the
				Department in assessing the needs of the child. A plan based on the child's
				needs shall include the specific services to be provided by the shelter care
				facility and other resources required to meet the needs of the child.
4. For children who remain in care for
				twenty-one (21) days, an assessment shall be made to facilitate the permanent
				plan. The plan shall include reasons for continued care or other care and plans
				to eliminate barriers. Copies of the plan shall be maintained at the shelter
				facility as well as given to the Department.
5. The shelter care facility shall be open
				twenty-four (24) hours, seven (7) days per week, including holidays, for
				admission, except when operating at licensed capacity.
6. The shelter care facility shall write a
				summary report of the care received by the child including any recommendations
				regarding the child and parent(s). This report shall be sent to the Department
				when the child leaves the shelter.
7. No child shall remain in an emergency or
				temporary facility for more than forty-five (45) calendar days unless there are
				exceptional circumstances and the DFCS Division Director has granted express
				written approval and documented the need for the extension. The shelter
				director shall notify the county of responsibility of discharge (14) fourteen
				calendar days prior to the forty-five (45) days.
8. No child shall be placed in more than one
				emergency or temporary facility within one episode of foster care, unless an
				immediate placement is necessary to protect the safety of the child or others
				as certified in writing by the Regional Director.
9. Placement decisions shall not be made
				based race, color, or national origin.