Aftercare Supervision

PURPOSE: The purpose of this rule is to outline responsibilities and procedures for the supervision of youth in aftercare. (1) Community Placement. The Division of Youth Services will ensure the appropriate treatment services are in place for the youth and his/her family. (2) Placement with Alternative Caregivers. Except in cases of emergency, children under Division of Youth Services supervision and placed in alternative caregiver homes funded by DYS shall be so placed only after an evaluation of the home has been completed. This evaluation shall include, but not be limited to, the adequacy of the home, family stability and composition, and the motivation and ability of the alternative caregivers to provide care. An alternative caregiver may be a relative or a person who is not related to the youth but has a close relationship with the youth or the youth’s family. (A) Preparation for Placement. The Division of Youth Services shall prepare the family and the youth for the impending placement. That preparation may include, but not be limited to, the following: 1. Counseling and training with the alternative caregivers; 2. Preplacement visits between the youth and the alternative caregivers; 3. Explanation of agency rates of payment and guidelines for expenditures of money on the youth’s behalf; 4. Evaluation of any other income the youth might have, such as Social Security benefits, Veteran’s Administration benefits, etc., as well as the youth’s family’s financial situation. The applicability of these funds to the youth’s needs will be determined by the regional administrator; and 5. Discussion of arrangement for payment of special needs, such as, medical expenses, educational, or therapeutic, etc. (3) Contractual Residential Services. The Division of Youth Services may utilize contractual residential services when it determines that the youth’s needs are beyond the scope of services available at a Division of Youth Services’ operated facility or space is not available at a Division of Youth Services’ facility in close proximity to the youth’s home or family. (4) Return to Facility (Shelter). A temporary return of the youth in aftercare to the facility for reasonable cause may be permitted upon the recommendation of the service coordinator with the approval of the regional administrator. Reasonable cause is to be determined only upon the basis of need for alternative placement with none immediately available. When the youth is returned for shelter, every effort is to be made by the service coordinator to complete alternate placement plans within thirty (30) days. Shelter placements may extend beyond thirty (30) days with approval by the regional administrator. When a placement is established by the service coordinator, the service coordinator will notify the facility and make arrangements for the youth to be released with the approval of the service coordinator’s supervisor. (5) Return to Facility (Revocation). Procedure for the return of youths held in violation of the conditions of aftercare supervision is outlined in 13 CSR 110-3.040. (6) Discharges from Aftercare Supervision. Section 219.026, RSMo, requires the division to immediately notify in writing the youth, his/her parent(s) or guardian(s), victim’s rights respondent, and the committing court of the termination of its supervision over the youth. AUTHORITY: sections 219.016, 219.036, and 660.017, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Dec. 30, 1975, effective Jan. 9, 1976. Amended: Filed Feb. 10, 2000, effective Aug. 30, 2000. Amended: Filed Oct. 30, 2018, effective June 30, 2019. *Original authority: 219.016, RSMo 1975, amended 1993, 1995; 219.036, RSMo 1975, amended, 1993; and 660.017, RSMo 1993, amended 1995.