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-VII - PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Current through June 25, 2024
A.
Requirements for Licensure:
(MS Code §
									43-15-107
				See Appendix)
1. The agency shall be located
				in a residential zoning area that is accepting of the facility and its mission
				and purpose.
2. The agency shall
				submit a written plan of action to the Licensure Unit for approval prior to
				start-up operation and/or commencing any new construction work.
3. All agencies shall obtain approval of
				local fire, safety, building construction and zoning authorities. The agency
				shall provide documentation as follows:
a.
				Written records of inspections from the appropriate local fire, health, and
				safety authorities annually.
b.
				Documentation that appropriate action was taken to correct deficiencies cited
				by the above entities.
c. Evidence
				and documentation of a routine pest control service.
4. The following inspection(s) shall be
				performed annually by the Health Department in order for the facility to comply
				with licensing standards:
a. Residential
				child caring agencies that have a cottage-style living arrangement with a
				family-type kitchen in each cottage or individual group home shall be inspected
				using only the Mississippi Department of Health Inspection for Residential
				Facility (Form 750) Inspection Report. The entire form shall be completed by
				the Health Department Environmentalist.
b. Residential child caring agencies which
				have a separate central dining area for all residents and/or have fifteen (15)
				or more persons eating together shall have both a Food Service Permit
				Inspection Report and a Residential Facility Inspection Report (Form
				750).
c. If a Form 750 is submitted
				with negative responses or "no" checked, the facility shall also submit a
				Corrective Action Plan within five (5) business days of receiving
				notification.
5. The
				agency shall have and follow written procedures for fire/natural disasters,
				including tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods which specify frequency of drills,
				evacuation plans and responsibilities of staff. The drills shall include an
				actual evacuation of children to safe areas. A posted record of the drills
				shall be kept as outlined below.
a. Include a
				schedule for fire drills and applicable disaster drills:
i. Staff and children of appropriate age and functioning capacity
				shall be trained in the correct reporting of fires and how to extinguish small
				fires.
ii. Fire drills shall be
				conducted at least monthly in a residential program and must be rotated among
				the following time frames.
7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
3:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.
11:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M.
iii. Disaster drills shall be conducted at
				least annually.
iv. Fire
				extinguishing equipment and alarms/smoke detectors shall be inspected annually
				by the Fire Marshall and be located throughout the facility in all resident
				areas and where conditions warrant (i.e., flammable storage areas) and be
				mounted in a secure manner.
b. Specify emergency escape
				procedures
c. Post escape routes
				at highly visible locations throughout the facility that clearly indicate your
				location and the nearest exit(s)
6. Written reports must follow each fire
				drill which must include at a minimum:
a.
				Date of drill
b. Time required for
				completion of drill
c. Signature of
				staff member completing the report.
7. Facilities shall be handicapped
				accessible.
8. The width of
				doorways, when the door is in the full open position, must not be fewer than
				thirty-two (32) inches wide.
9.
				Doors opening onto stairs must have a landing at a minimum of the width of the
				door.
10. Minimum head room on
				stairs to clear all obstruction must be six feet and eight inches tall (6'
				8").
11. Width of stairs must not
				be less than thirty-two (32) inches.
a.
				Minimum tread depth of each step of the stairs must not be less than nine (9)
				inches.
b. Maximum height of risers
				in each step must not exceed eight (8) inches.
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12. Guards and handrails must be provided on
				both sides of all stairs and ramps rising more than thirty (30) inches above
				the floor or grade and must meet the following:
a. Guards and handrails must continue for the full length of the
				ramp or stairs.
b. Handrails must
				provide at least two (2) inches between the inner side of the rail and support
				wall.
c. Handrails must not be more
				than thirty-four (34) inches above the step or ramp nor less than thirty (30)
				inches.
13. Ramps,
				platforms and landings associated with the guards and handrails must be: a.
				Designed for not less than one hundred (100) pounds per square foot b. Have a
				slip-resistant surface
14. Locks,
				if provided on exit doors, shall not require the use of a key for operation
				from inside the building.
15. No
				stove or heater shall block an escape route.
16. A back splash shall be installed behind
				any stove.
17. Exits shall be
				accessible at all times.