Regional Classification Services

PURPOSE: The purpose of this rule is to establish guidelines and lines of authority for the classification procedure when a youth is classified from one of the juvenile courts by a regional administrator or his/her designee. (1) Each regional administrator or his/her designee, subject to all other divisional rules and policies, has full authority to assign youth to any residential unit or appropriate other placement. Classification criteria to be used is contained in 13 CSR 110-2.040. (2) After a determination of the type of program in which a youth could best function, if it is determined s/he could best function in a community-based program, the assignment will be made in the following priority order: (A) If a vacancy exists in the youth’s home community, the regional administrator should assign the youth to a program in that community; (B) If no vacancy exists in a local program, the assignment can be made on a regional basis; and (C) When none of the circumstances in (2)(A)–(B) exist, the youth can be assigned to a community-based program regardless of the location as long as the regional administrator still considers the assignment in the best interest of the youth. (3) The division will inform the juvenile court of where the youth is to be delivered and will ensure that all the appropriate records are delivered with the youth. AUTHORITY: section 219.036, RSMo 1994.* Original rule filed Dec. 30, 1975, effective Jan. 9, 1976. Amended: Filed Feb. 10, 2000, effective Aug. 30, 2000. *Original authority: 219.036, RSMo 1975, amended 1993,