449.3 Conditions for Operation of a Supervised Independent Living Program.
a) After receiving approval to operate a supervised
independent living program from 0CFS, the authorized agency may operate a
program and certify supervised independent living units for occupancy by youth
at the sites for which the authorized agency has issued supervised independent
living program certifications.
b) An authorized agency may only issue supervised independent
living program certifications for sites that are in compliance with the
requirements of this Part.
c) An authorized agency operating an approved supervised
independent living program must notify OCFS of the certification, renewal and/or
closure of each supervised independent living unit. Such notification must be
made by the authorized agency within 10 days of such certification, renewal or
closure in the form and manner as required by OCFS.
d) The authorized agency is responsible for the inspection,
monitoring and supervision of all the supervised independent living units
operated by the agency.
e) A professionally trained caseworker, a person with
experience in child welfare, or a person holding a master's degree in a related
field who is in the employ of the authorized agency must supervise the
supervised independent living program.
f) The person designated to supervise the program must make
the determination as to the youth to be placed in each supervised independent
living unit, or such determination may be made by an interdisciplinary team when
it is the general practice of the authorized agency to use such teams to make
placement decisions.
g) Adequate staffing must be maintained to provide services,
visits, and supervision. The supervision of youth participating in a supervised
independent living program must be performed by designated staff member(s) of
the authorized agency who are qualified to perform such function; staff member(s)
so designated must visit and consult with each youth at the supervised
independent living unit at least twice per week. At least one visit per week
must be held outside of standard business hours. An increased number of visits
are required, when necessary, to address the individual health and safety needs
of the residents of the supervised independent living unit. Visits conducted
pursuant to this subdivision may satisfy the casework contact requirements of
section 441.21( c) of this Title to the extend that visits are made by the
child's case planner or caseworker assigned to the child by the case planner.
h) The authorized agency must re-evaluate and renew the
certification of each supervised independent living unit on an annual basis
using standards contained in this Part. This evaluation must be documented in
the authorized agency's record.
i) Reimbursement for certified supervised independent living
units will be provided on a basis and in a manner as determined by OCFS.
j) An authorized agency operating a supervised independent
living programs must submit fiscal and program data to OCFS in accordance with
the provisions of Part 427 of this Title.