Sec. 16.17.05.04. Program Requirements for Certification

A. In order to meet organizational and administrative requirements, each program shall:

(1) Provide a program description that defines the:

(a) Population to be served,

(b) Services to be provided,

(c) Goals and desired outcomes for participating youth, and

(d) Methods and techniques to be used in order to accomplish the desired outcomes;

(2) Provide an organizational chart and a narrative describing the interrelatedness of all staff;

(3) Provide job descriptions for all positions which indicate the required level of education and experience for each;

(4) Maintain accounting records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and COMAR 16.04.02 in sufficient detail so that expenditures pertaining to the operation of the program are readily identifiable;

(5) Secure insurance coverage for potential liabilities commensurate with the services provided; and

(6) Establish a grievance procedure approved by the Department for youth in the program.

B. In order to meet staff requirements, each program shall:

(1) Provide a sufficient number of appropriately trained staff to fulfill the service design of the program;

(2) Provide a personnel file for each staff member in the program which includes the following documentation:

(a) Identifying information,

(b) Verification of criminal background checks,

(c) Verification that educational and experiential requirements for the position were met,

(d) Indication of reference checks,

(e) Verification of an initial and subsequent annual physical examination, including a TB test, which indicates that the employee is in good physical health,

(f) Record of orientation and training,

(g) Verification of a driver's license and insurance, when applicable,

(h) Annual evaluation, and

(i) Employee termination summary; and

(3) Provide a plan for the use of volunteers, including student interns, which addresses:

(a) Selection,

(b) Orientation,

(c) Supervision, and

(d) Criminal background checks, when applicable.

C. In order to meet service delivery requirements, each program shall:

(1) Provide intake procedures;

(2) Provide orientation to all youth entering the program and, as appropriate, the youths' families;

(3) Provide a termination procedure for youth;

(4) Develop a service or treatment plan for each youth in the program which includes:

(a) Involvement of the youth, the youth's family and, when appropriate, the Department in the planning process,

(b) Individual goals,

(c) Expected time to accomplish the goals,

(d) Assigned responsibilities for accomplishing the goals,

(e) Outcome measures, and

(f) Regular review of the plan;

(5) Maintain for each youth a record which is kept in a secure and confidential manner with limited access and is kept current, complete, and accurate;

(6) Maintain sufficient record keeping to document all activities performed by the program;

(7) Ensure provision of a program designed to meet the social, emotional, and physical needs of the youth; and

(8) Ensure that children of mandatory school attendance age who have not earned a secondary school diploma or certificate of completion and children who are eligible for special education services are provided with an educational program through the local educational agency or at the program, if the program's school holds a certificate of approval issued by the State Board of Education to operate a nonpublic education program.

D. The program site shall meet applicable health and fire safety requirements and be appropriate and conducive to the activities and services to be conducted there.

E. In order to meet the reporting requirements, each program shall:

(1) Adhere to the requirement for reporting all cases of suspected child abuse or neglect;

(2) Follow the Department's policy for reporting critical and emergency incidents involving staff or youth in the program;

(3) Report to the Department client demographic information regarding service delivery and the number of youth served as required by the Department; and

(4) Notify the Department of any condition or circumstance that may affect the program's compliance with these regulations.