Specialized Group Care for Minor Victims of Sex Trafficking

Specialized Group Care for Minor Victims of Sex Trafficking 1. Description. Specialized Group Care for Minor Victims of Sex Trafficking (SGC) is a setting that is licensed to provide 24-hour care and supervision for children and youth identified to be involved in any form of commercial exploitation. Partner Providers of this setting conduct services for commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC) (used synonymously with victims of human trafficking or victims at risk of human trafficking) and must meet the Congregate Care Licensure Standards in addition to the program requirements outlined in this rule. 2. Licensing. If the Partner Provider seeks reimbursement from MDCPS as a therapeutic placement resource, the resource must be certified through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health in addition to meeting the MDCPS licensure requirements for Congregate Care. a. The Partner Provider shall submit the following documentation to the Licensing Authority for license as a SGC: i. Facility’s security plan; ii. Documentation of client services provided, to include age range and gender(s). iii. Copy of supervision policies and procedures; iv. Documentation of specialized training hours related to Human Trafficking completed for all staff; and v. Documentation of compliance with the requirements applicable to a Specialized Group Care for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking 3. General Requirements a. Utilize an evidenced-based and trauma-informed approach to care. b. Serve exclusively one sex in the placement. c. Assess and serve child victims of commercial sexual exploitation who need placement in a safe home on a voluntary basis without regard to MDCPS custody. d. Have awake staff members on duty 24 hours a day. See licensure standards for staffing ratios. 4. Security Plan. Provide appropriate security through staffing, facility location and design, hardware, technology, including, but not limited to, internal/external video monitoring and door exit alarms. 5. Client Services. Specialized Group Care for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking shall provide services tailored to the needs of minor victims of human trafficking and shall conduct a comprehensive assessment of the service needs of each resident. In addition to the services required to be provided by Congregate Care Facilities, SGC’s must provide, arrange for, or coordinate, at a minimum, the following services: a. A mental health assessment completed by a licensed mental health practitioner within thirty (30) days of placement. b. Documented Safety Plan developed with the child and family (if applicable) c. Trauma-focused mental health therapy d. Family counseling e. Health care coordination f. Treatment and intervention for sexual assault g. Education tailored to the child’s individual needs, including remedial education, if necessary h. Life skills and workforce training i. Mentoring by a survivor of commercial sexual exploitation, if available and appropriate for the child j. Substance abuse screening and, when necessary, referral for treatment k. Planning services for the successful transition of each child back to the community l. Activities structured in a manner that provides child victims of commercial sexual exploitation with a schedule of activities tailored to meet their individual needs. 6. Training. The Partner Provider shall ensure all staff having direct contact with residents complete pre-service training requirements as outlined in the Congregate Care Licensure Standards and receive an additional 24 hours of specialized training on human trafficking prior to working with youth. The 24-hours of training shall be instructor led and delivered by a trainer certified to conduct Human Trafficking Training. The 24-hours of training are initial trainings to be completed before engagement with the population. a. Partner Providers shall ensure that staff trained in a human trafficking prevention education curriculum to facilitate to youth residing in the home. b. Partner Providers shall ensure that staff are trained in an evidenced based trauma informed care model. c. Partner Providers shall ensure that staff are trained in verbal de- escalation techniques via a recognized model approved by MDCPS. d. Additional and ongoing training for staff may be reviewed in the training licensure standards. 7. Policies and Procedures. The child-caring agency shall develop policies and procedures for all services and as well as a security plan and emergency response plan that includes local law enforcement agencies that meet minimum standards as determined by the regulatory body (i.e. Mississippi Department of Mental Health or MDCPS) including an emergency response plan that includes local law enforcement agencies. 8. Changes made to any policies and procedures shall be submitted to the Licensing Authority within ten (10) business days of the proposed amendments and will need to be reviewed by the regulatory body. Changes shall be reviewed prior to implementation to ensure they meet minimum standards as set forth. 9. Admission and Discharge. a. You must be at least ten (10) years of age at the time of admission. b. Congregate care licensure standards describing pre-discharge requirements shall apply. The Partner Providers admission criteria shall identify any exclusionary factors and outline the intake and discharge procedures. This shall include criteria for requests for change of placement and early termination of the program due to youth’s consistent unapproved leave (i.e. runaway) from the program as determined by the Partner Provider. c. Current or historical trauma-related behaviors and coping mechanisms, such as the following should not be used as a reason to deny a placement request or discharge a youth, unless it can be determined that such behavior will create an imminent risk to the safety or stability of other residents in the home: i. Running away; ii. Non-violent delinquent offenses (with consideration of violent offenses on a case-by-case basis) iii. Recruitment, grooming or similar behaviors; iv. Violent behaviors that do not pose an imminent risk to others; v. Mental health diagnoses that do not require a higher level of care; or vi. Occasional substance abuse, separate from deep substance abuse, places the child in imminent danger that may require inpatient treatment. d. The child-caring agency shall outline in their program policy responses to behaviors that support and develop the child’s healthy recovery and resilience as included in the therapeutic model. 10. Discharge Planning and After Care Services. a. Prior to a discharge determination from the SGC, each youth shall have a re-evaluation of their service plan and multidisciplinary team staffing to include the MDCPS HT Coordinator. b. The child-caring agency shall have a written policy on discharge planning and aftercare services which shall specify the availability of services and identify the staff member or agency responsible for follow-up and implementation of the plan. The Partner Provider must incorporate an after-care plan upon discharge that identifies community services for the youth as stipulated in Standards. c. The child-caring agency shall prepare a written discharge summary and document this in the child’s case record at least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the anticipated date of discharge from the program unless the release is unplanned and unforeseen. A copy of the discharge summary shall be provided to the parent, guardian, or referral agency at least 14 calendar days prior to the proposed discharge date unless the discharge is unplanned and unforeseen. d. Discharge planning shall include input from the child, the child’s parent or guardian, caregiver, child’s attorney if applicable. i. The discharge summary shall include the following: ii. A summary of services, an assessment of goal achievement, and identification of the needs which remain to be met; iii. Clinical recommendations for the child and family following discharge, including provisions for support and referrals; iv. The date and reasons for discharge; v. The name, address, telephone number and relationship of the person or agency to whom the child is being discharged; and vi. A copy of the child’s medical, mental health, dental, educational, legal assistance, alcohol and drug treatment, and other records for the use of the person or agency who will assume care of the child. 11. The Partner Provider shall have procedures for adequate follow-up or aftercare services. Aftercare plans shall at a minimum, reflect recommendations for services, where appropriate, and document any referrals generated, and include at least one (1) documented contact with the discharged child or his/her family within the first thirty (30) days following discharge. 12. All documentation shall be placed in the child’s file.