Sec. 10.21.26.11. Staff Support and Mental Health Services — Treatment Foster Care

A. Staff Support. The RCS program director shall assure that:

(1) RCS mental health professional staff provides, to the foster care provider, specialized training in mental health crisis recognition, management, and intervention, before placing any individuals in the foster home; and

(2) The RCS program has the capacity to provide staff to deliver, in the foster home, on an emergency basis:

(a) 24-hour, awake supervision; and

(b) One-to-one support.

B. Psychiatric Evaluation and Intervention. The program director shall ensure appropriate evaluation and documentation of needed treatment interventions:

(1) By consultation with the psychiatrist who is currently treating the individual;

(2) Through a written agreement with a provider of mental health treatment, who will provide face-to-face evaluation by a psychiatrist before the development of the ITP; or

(3) Through a written agreement with an outpatient mental health clinic, approved under COMAR 10.21.20, that will provide consultation with a psychiatrist and face-to-face evaluation by a mental health professional privileged by the program and appointed by the medical director to provide the service.

C. Treatment and Support Services.

(1) The program director shall assure that:

(a) An individual receives the care or treatment outlined in the ITP under Regulation .07A of this chapter; and

(b) As required by an individual's ITP, a mental health professional is available to provide mental health services on site at the foster home.

(2) Medication Services.

(a) A foster care provider shall:

(i) Administer an individual's medications, as permitted under COMAR 10.27.11; or

(ii) Monitor an individual's self-administration of medications.

(b) The program director shall assure that, if an individual's ITP requires that RCS staff provide medication services, monitoring or administration of medication is carried out as outlined under Regulation .09C(2) of this chapter.