Limits on Use of Emergency Shelter Services

(1) Emergency shelter for an individual child shall be provided for a maximum period of 30 days in a six month period. Those 30 days may be consecutive or may accumulate. In the event of a court order for out-of-home placement of a child, emergency shelter for an individual child shall be utilized for a maximum period of 45 days in a six-month period. (2) Emergency shelter to women in transition shall be provided for a maximum period of six consecutive weeks. (3) Emergency shelter facilities may provide placement for children without parental consent for up to 72 hours, during which time either the parents' consent must be obtained or a court order allowing continued placement must be obtained. If the client is a mature child, he/she may be required to sign a Voluntary Placement Agreement with the Department in order for the Department to provide placement for 72 hours without parental consent or court order.