Initial Screening Instrument, Reporting, Criteria for Certification of Safe Foster Homes and Safe Houses, Training for Foster Parents of Safe Foster Homes and Staff of Safe Houses, Specialized Training in Serving Sexually Exploited Children, ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Family Safety and Preservation Program

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

65C-43.001Initial Screening Instrument

65C-43.002Reporting

65C-43.003Criteria for Certification of Safe Foster Homes and Safe Houses

65C-43.004Training for Foster Parents of Safe Foster Homes and Staff of Safe Houses65C-43.005Specialized Training in Serving Sexually Exploited Children

65C-43.006Administrative Actions

NOTICE OF CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 41 No. 149, August 3, 2015 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.

65C-43.001

(1) Any child or young adult suspected of being sexually exploited shall be assessed using the “Human Trafficking Screening Tool Administration Guide (HTST),” CF-FSP 5406, February 2015, incorporated by reference and available at www.dcf.state.fl.us/publications/. A young adult is defined as someone who has reached 18 years of age but is not yet 23 years of age. As defined in the list of indicators in the HTST, tThe following children or young adults must be assessed using the HTST:

(1)(a) through (1)(e) No change.

(2) Any professional administering the HTST must meet the training requirements set forth in 65C-43.005, F.A.C., and must have completed the Department approved training for the HTST prior to administering the tool instrument.

(3) The HTST shall be initiated administered within 24 hours of identifying one or more of the conditions set forth in subsection (1)(a)-(e) of this rule.  For a If the child or young adult whose adult’s whereabouts are unknown, the HTST shall be initiated administered within 24 hours of the debriefing of a recovered as soon as contact with the child or young adult if the debriefing results in indicators of human trafficking  as outlined in subsection (1) of this rule is made.

(4) If the HTST was previously administered by one of the shared agencies as listed in the HTST, incorporated in subsection (1) of this rule another agency, the results of the HTST that assessment shall be used in determining the most appropriate placement for the child or young adult included in an updated assessment.

(5) The results of the HTST shall be used in determining the most appropriate placement and services for the child or young adult.

 

65C-43.002

(1) through (6)(a) No change.

(6)(b) The outcome of the screening assessment;

(6)(c) The placement that resulted from the screening assessment, including whether a safe foster home or safe house placement was made. If a safe foster home or safe house placement was not made, an explanation of why it was not made must be provided;

(6)(d) through (6)(f) No change.

(7) The information specifically for each child and young adult required in subsection (6) of this rule shall be captured utilizing Part 1 of the “Screening, Placement and Services Checklist for Sexually Exploited Children and Young Adults,” CF-FSP 5413, September 2015, incorporated by reference and available at www.dcf.state.fl.us/publications/. The information required in subsections (1) through (5) of this rule shall be captured utilizing Part 2 of the “Screening, Placement and Services Checklist for Sexually Exploited Children and Young Adults.”

 

65C-43.003

(1) through (1)(b)4. No change.

(1)(b)5. The child or young adult’s behavior management safety plan that assesses safety;

(1)(b)6. thorough (1)(b)10. No change.

(1)(b)11. A “Services Plan for Sexually Exploited Children and Young Adults Transition Plan,” CF-FSP 5405, April 2015, incorporated by reference and available at www.dcf.state.fl.us/publications/, and progress reports; and

(1)(b)12. through (1)(c) No change.

(2) Approval Process for Certification of Safe Foster Homes

(a) Upon receipt of a safe foster home certification application, the Regional Licensing Authority shall request from the CBC any supporting documentation that is needed within 10 business days of receipt of the recommendation.

(b) The CBC shall have 30 business days to provide the supporting documentation to the Regional Licensing Authority. If no additional information is provided, or if it is provided after 30 business days, the certification application shall be denied.

(c) The Regional Licensing Authority shall have 90 days following receipt of a certification application packet to approve or deny the application.

(d) If the application for certification is denied, the Regional Licensing Authority shall, within 10 business days of the denial decision, send the foster home applicant a letter specifying the certification standards that were not met.

(e) If the application for certification is approved, the Regional Licensing Authority shall amend the license to include language that the foster home is certified as a safe foster home.

(2) is renumbered (3). No change through (a)9.a.

(a)9.b. The admission plan shall outline the intake and discharge procedures and require the completion of the “Services Plan for Sexually Exploited Children and Young Adults Transition Plan,” incorporated by reference in subparagraph (1)(b)11. of this rule, for each child or young adult.

(a)10. No change.

(b) Prior to approval, the Regional Licensing Authority shall review pPolicies and procedures for all services and security plans to ensure they meet minimum standards as set forth in Section 409.1678 (2), F.S., including an emergency response plan with local law enforcement agencies shall be approved by the Regional Licensing Authority. Approval shall occur during the initial certification process.

(c) Changes made to any policies and procedures shall be submitted to the Regional Licensing Authority within 10 business days of the proposed change.  Changes shall be reviewed require approval prior to implementation to ensure they meet minimum standards as set forth in Section 409.1678 (2), F.S.

(d) The child-caring agency shall include the “Services Plan for Sexually Exploited Children and Young Adults Transition Plan,” incorporated by reference in subparagraph (1)(b)11. of this rule,  in the  child or young adult’s case file.

(4)(3) Approval Process for Certification of Safe Foster Homes and Safe Houses

(a) Upon receipt of a safe house certification application, tThe Regional Licensing Authority shall request from the child-caring child-placing agency any supporting documentation that is needed within 10 business days of receipt of the recommendation.

(b) The child-caring agency CBC shall have 30 business days to provide the supporting documentation to the Regional Licensing Authority.  If no additional information is provided, or if it is provided after 30 business days, the certification application shall be denied.

(c) No change.

(d) If the application for certification is denied, the Regional Licensing Authority shall, within 10 business days of the denial decision, send the child-caring agency applicant a letter specifying the certification standards that were not met.

(e) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 409.1678(2)(c)7. (7), (2)(e)  F.S.  Law Implemented   409.1678 F.S.  History – New

 

65C-43.004

(1) through (2) No change.

(3) Specialized intensive curriculum about for sexually exploited children must be approved by the Department.  In determining whether a curriculum will be approved, the Department will consider whether the curriculum addresses the subjects specified in subsection (4) of this rule and whether the instructor has met the following criteria:

(3)(a) No change.

(3)(b) Has a master’s degree in social work or a related area of study; or a master’s degree in psychology, sociology, counseling, special education, education, human development, child development, family development, marriage and family therapy, criminal justice, adult learning or nursing; or.

(3)(c) Has specialized knowledge in sexual exploitation and child welfare.

(3)(d)(c) In addition, all instructors must have received training on the following topics: in treatment modalities, including Human Trafficking, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-focused Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Co-occurring Disorders.

(4) The specialized intensive training on for sexually exploited children shall include:

(4)(a) through (4)(l) No change.

(4)(m) Behavior management activities Safety planning.

(5) Once certified, foster parents of safe foster homes and direct care staff of safe houses must complete eight (8) hours of sexual exploitation-focused continuing education annually focused on sexual exploitation.

 

65C-43.005

(1) Child protective investigators and case managers, and their supervisors, must receive a minimum of six (6) hours of specialized training on in sexual exploitation approved by the Department prior to accepting cases with sexually exploited children or young adults. The specialized training in sexual exploitation shall consist of:

(1)(a) through (1)(c) No change.

(2) Child protective investigators and case managers must each year receive a minimum of one (1) hour of ongoing training per quarter on sexual exploitation of children. The training curriculum and any revision to the training curriculum must be approved by the Department every three (3) months. 

(3) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 409.16781754(2)(e) F.S. Law Implemented   409.1754(2)(a)1  F.S.  History – New

 

65C-43.006 No change.