922 KAR 1:460. Standards for a private child-caring facility youth wilderness camp program

      Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Accrediting body" means the:

      (a) Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; and

      (b) Association for Experiential Education; or

      (c) Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services.

      (2) "Base camp" means a structure that is part of, or located off of, the campus of a child-caring facility.

      (3) "Child" is defined at KRS 199.011(4) and includes a child whose commitment has been extended in accordance with KRS 610.110(6).

      (4) "Child-caring facility" is defined at KRS 199.011(6) and 199.641(1)(b).

      (5) "Division of Licensed Child Care" or "DLCC" means a division within the Office of the Inspector General.

      (6) "Individual treatment plan" or "ITP" means a plan of action developed and implemented to address the needs of a child.

      (7) "Office of the Inspector General" or "OIG" means the entity established by authority of KRS 224.10-025.

      (8) "Optional solo experience" is a phase of a private child-caring facility youth wilderness camp program in which a child is placed alone at a camp site to therapeutically address goals outlined in the child's ITP.

      (9) "Private child-caring facility youth wilderness camp" means a specific program of a licensed child-caring facility designed to provide an outdoor experience that:

      (a) Includes a base camp;

      (b) Includes a field program; and

      (c) May include an optional solo experience consistent with a child's ITP.

 

      Section 2. Administration and Operation. (1) A private child-caring facility youth wilderness camp shall:

      (a) Be a program of a child-caring facility licensed as required by 922 KAR 1:305;

      (b) Meet the requirements of 922 KAR 1:300, Sections 3(1) through (5), (6)(a) through (c), (7), 4(1), (2) and (5), and 5 through 7, except the staffing requirements of Section 3(5)(b)8(iii) of this administrative regulation;

      (c) Have at least three (3) staff members with each group of ten (10) children at all times, if operating away from base camp; and

      (d) Meet the requirements of 922 KAR 1:390 except Section 4(2)(a); and

      (e) Provide a copy of youth wilderness camp component accrediting body correspondence, notices, and reports to the OIG, DLCC within two (2) working days of receipt.

      (2) A licensed private child-caring facility with an operational youth wilderness camp shall:

      (a) Obtain accreditation on the youth wilderness camp component from an accrediting body, within one (1) year of the effective date of this administrative regulation; and

      (b) Apply for a youth wilderness camp component license with the OIG, DLCC, upon receipt of youth wilderness camp accreditation.

      (3) Prior to operating a youth wilderness camp program, a licensed private child-caring facility without an operational youth wilderness camp shall:

      (a) Obtain a provisional accreditation from an accrediting body which includes:

      1. Review by the accrediting body of the private child-caring facility's plan to operate a youth wilderness camp program, including review of proposed policy and procedure; and

      2. Standards and timeframes for performance, established by the accrediting body;

      (b) Achieve full accreditation from an accrediting body; and

      (c) Apply for a youth wilderness camp component license, as specified in subsection (2)(b) of this section.

 

      Section 3. Decertification. (1) Upon notice from an accrediting body that a youth wilderness camp program is decertified, the private child-caring facility shall:

      (a) Notify the cabinet immediately upon notification from the accrediting body;

      (b) Cease operating the youth wilderness camp program;

      (c) Notify each parent or guardian that the wilderness camp program has been closed; and

      1. Advise each displaced child's cabinet staff member of bed availability within the private child-caring facility and assist in transitioning the child to the new placement; or

      2. Discharge each noncommitted child to a parent or guardian;

      (d) Return the youth wilderness camp program component license, on the following business day, to the OIG, DLCC.

      (2) Recertification by an accrediting body following decertification and written notification from the OIG, DLCC to the private child-caring facility shall be required in order to reinstate the youth wilderness program component.

 

      Section 4. Special Provisions. (1) A child committed to the cabinet by a court of competent jurisdiction shall not be permitted to:

      (a) Participate in an optional solo experience; or

      (b) Leave the state of Kentucky without obtaining prior consent from a cabinet staff member responsible for the case.

      (2) Before a child may enter the optional solo experience, a parent or guardian of a noncommitted child shall review and sign a document that:

      (a) Is provided by the private child-caring facility;

      (b) Describes the optional solo experience, including risks; and

      (c) Shall be retained at the private child-care facility for five (5) years. (29 Ky.R. 1726; Am. 2235; Am. 2297; eff. 3-19-03.)

Notation

      RELATES TO: KRS 199.011, 199.640, 199.645-199.670, 214.034(4), 600.020, 610.110(6), 615.010, 615.030, 615.040

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 194A.050(1), 199.640(5), 199.645, 615.050

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 199.640(5)(a) requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate administrative regulations relating to standards of care and service for child-caring facilities. This administrative regulation establishes standards of care and services for a youth wilderness camp, which is a program of a licensed private child-caring facility.