OAC 5101:2-9-15
The Twelve of Ohio, Inc.
GROUP HOME HANDBOOK
FOR RESIDENT AND FAMILIES
WELCOME
We are happy to have the opportunity to work together with you and your family and we look forward to helping you achieve your case plan. Your placement with us is no accident. You have been accepted into the program because we believe you can benefit from working together with us and your family to accomplish mutually agreed upon goals.
In order for us to work together there are real responsibilities that we have toward each other which will require a great deal of work to achieve. The most important responsibility is being truthful. We will be truthful in our dealing with you and we expect you to be truthful with us.
We hope your time with us is a positive experience in your life and we look forward to getting to know you.
Sincerely,
The Staff of the Twelve for Children & Families
Revised: July 9, 2008
Revised: May 19, 2010
Revised: June 24, 2010
Board Approved / Effective: June 29, 2010
Revised / Board Approved / Effective: December 20, 2010
Revised / Board Effective: October 12, 2011
Board Approved: February 21, 2012
Table of Contents
Index / Page 2Program overview and services / Page 3
Education / Page 4
Employment / Page 4
Program responsibilities / Page 4
Meal times / Page 4
Recreation / Page 5
Religious participation / Page 5
Health care / Page 5
Free time / Page 5
Emergencies / Page 5
Clothing / Page 6
Allowances / Page 6
Role of family / Page 6
Visitation and Communication / Page 6, 7
Use of Computer and software / Page 7, 8
Electronic Mail (E-mail) / Page 8, 9,10
Internet and use of online services / Page 10,11
Search and Seizure / Page 11, 12
Group Home Discipline / Page 12, 13, 14
Complaint Procedure / Page 14
Reporting abuse or neglect / Page 15
Additional House Guidelines / Page 16
Child Rights / Page 17
Signature page (to be filed) / Page 18
Purpose
The Group Home provides an environment of short term, intensive supervision and treatment for resident who require stabilization and services geared to their eventual return home or to a less restrictive environment.
Services
Services are provided to residents who exhibit serious emotional and behavioral problems. These may include:
· Anger management issues
· Substance abuse issues
· Habitual truancy
· High-risk behavior issues
The goal is to stabilize residents within a therapeutic environment with an emphasis on both group and individual counseling. Residents attend school, participate in recreational and cultural enrichment activities and upon appropriate demonstration, may hold a job. A full range of Independent Living skills are also presented to residents while in placement.
Group Home staff are trained in the concept of a therapeutic community, the basis for which is Social Responsibility Theory (SRT).
Staffing
Residents are supervised 24 hours a day. The staffing ratio is 2-10 during waking hours. Staffing ratio is also adjusted for specific activities, including trips away from the group home and on property activities. In these situations, additional staff are often provided for more supervision. A Child Care Worker is on duty and awake to supervise the residents during sleeping hours. A supervisor is on call 24 hours a day
A low staff to resident ratio allows greater flexibility in providing for the individual needs of each resident.
The Treatment Team meets weekly to set and review the goals and objectives of each resident and the program as a whole.
Treatment Milieu
Specific group therapy/treatment sessions are held twice a week. These are facilitated by a licensed therapist or a licensed staff. Weekly individual counseling is provided by a Licensed Social Worker. Resident progress and goals are discussed and/or amended at weekly treatment team meetings. Staff are trained in responding to treatment issues on a daily basis. Group Home staff are trained in the concept of a therapeutic community, the basis for which is Social Responsibility Theory (SRT).
Family therapy is available upon request and if deemed necessary by the treatment team.
Education
OAC 5101:2-9-19
Most residents attend the local public schools. Home instruction and the Adult Learning Center are also an option.
The Educational component is mandatory and a very important part of the resident’s treatment
Staff will make contacts with the schools and /or other educational programs on a regular basis to evaluate progress and to avert any problems that may be developing. Educational goals are discussed at treatment team meetings weekly.
You are required to attend study time each Monday – Thursday. A certified teacher and teacher’s aide is available through the local school system to assist residents with homework and to provide additional help with difficult subjects.
Employment
Employment through area businesses will be permitted when in agreement with your treatment plan. If you become employed, a joint savings account with staff and resident will be opened and you will be required to save 80% of your earnings. If you wish to make special purchases, you must have the approval of the House Manager and your agency caseworker. Any money provided to or earned by a child shall be considered to be the child’s money and not funds belonging to the residential facility (or staff). OAC 5101:2-9-17
Working a job in the community is considered free time. This is an earned privilege.
Group Home Responsibilities
You will be able to earn allowance by completing daily chores assigned by staff. Daily cleaning and upkeep is part of your responsibility and helps you to acquire a sense of pride and accomplishment in your home. Bedrooms are the responsibility of the resident in that room. You are responsible for doing your laundry weekly.
Meal Times
Breakfast: 6am – 9am. (Each resident is expected to clean up after himself)
Lunch Time: times are flexible because of various types and times of programming of each resident.
DinnerTime: 5pm – 6pm. All residents are to be present for the dinner meal.
Snack Time: Snacks are available
Residents are asked to receive permission when eating between meals and are not permitted to take food out of the dining area
Recreational Activities
OAC 5101:2-9-18
House meetings will be held to coordinate activities. All residents are encouraged to participate as a group in deciding which activities to pursue. Recreational activities include: local movie theaters, YMCA facilities, CYC recreational facilities, bowling, roller skating, football, softball, basketball, hiking, swimming, fishing, and any other activities which are arranged. Planned outings and field trips (camping, fishing, educational, historical and cultural enrichment, etc.) are scheduled throughout the year.
Religious Participation
OAC 5101:2-9-19
Each child shall be provided opportunities to practice their chosen religious faith without any coercion, unless it is determined and documented in the child’s case plan by the custodial agency that practicing the child’s or families chosen religious beliefs and faith is not in the child’s best interest. Parents will be encouraged to participate whenever possible.
Health Care Services
Health services include:
§ A medical assessment consisting of a physician’s examination within thirty days prior to placement or within 30 days of admission. In addition, a medical screening is performed within 5 days of admission.
§ Written summary of resident and family’s known medical history, including immunizations, operations, childhood illnesses, with a copy prepared for and presented to resident who are in the process of transferring into Independent Living from the program. A copy of the medical history will be maintained on file.
§ Resident will receive age-appropriate instruction regarding teen pregnancy prevention, AIDS prevention, and general information about the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted disease
§ Direct provision for referral for needed services.
§ All resident receive routine dental and vision services
Personal Time
Personal time outside of the home, without direct supervision is an earned privilege and is determined by the treatment team in accordance with treatment plan. Working a job in the community is considered free time. This is an earned privilege.
Emergency Procedure
As a new resident, you will be shown emergency exits and safety plans. You will be directed where to go in case of fire or evacuation and you will practice these on a routine basis under staff supervision.
Emergency drills are held monthly at various times of day and night and you are expected to respond to drills as if they are real.
Clothing
Clothing will be provided by custodial agency at the time of placement and inventoried upon intake. Additional clothing will be provided seasonally according to contract. Clothing inventories will be updated on a regular basis.
Allowance
Residents will earn a weekly allowance upon competition of daily responsibilities which include cleaning the bedroom and daily details.
5101:2-9-17 Child's money.
(A) Any money provided to or earned by a child shall be considered to be the child’s money and not funds belonging to the staff or the residential facility.
(B) A residential facility shall ensure that any child having the opportunity to receive or earn money has an account either at an established financial institution or in the residential facility for the safe keeping of such money. If the account is maintained at the residential facility, a written report of the current balance, deposits, withdrawals, and any interest earned shall be provided to the child at least every three months.
(C) A residential facility may issue credit script to children, in lieu of legal tender, for use within the facility.
(D) Within ten days of a planned discharge, or within thirty days if the discharge is not planned, funds belonging to a child kept at or by the facility shall be returned to the child.
(E) A residential facility shall not charge a resident for an item required to be provided to the resident as required in Chapter 5101:2-9 of the Administrative Code unless the resident is learning life skills as part of an independent living program.
Role of Your Family
Your family is considered to be a very important part of the treatment team and their opinion about your goals and objectives is important to us as well as their view of your personal progress in the program. Therefore, they are encouraged to visit and actively participate in the development and review of your treatment plan and your overall daily life.
Your family is expected to abide by the rules of the program, just as you are and to do nothing that will inhibit your treatment progress.
Visiting and Communications
To ensure that the agency provides for visiting and communications between a child and his/her family, friends and significant others in their life. This will be done by appointment only.
A child shall be allowed to send or receive mail subject to the group home policy regarding contraband and/or directives from the legal custodian and the child’s service plan. A child shall in accordance with the service plan have access to a telephone for making and receiving telephone calls. Youth may also have access to cell phones, internet, email and other electronic devices and will be instructed in their proper use.
In accordance with the service plan, reasonable conditions of privacy for approved visits and telephone contacts will be made.
1.) Each child shall be permitted to have reasonable access to a phone for sending and receiving calls
2.) Each resident will be permitted to confer with its attorney and/or guardian ad litem, by telephone or at the group home, in private, at reasonable times desired by the child.
3.) The group home manager shall designate space, which is not in the space where children live, to serve as a private area for discussions and counseling sessions between children and staff. In most cases the group home office will be made available for private conversations or counseling sessions.
4.) All residents shall be permitted to send and receive mail subject only to agency rules regarding contraband and rules and directives from the child’s legal Guardian, when rules do not conflict with federal postal regulations.
5.) Youth who have access to electronic media, which may include cell phones, internet and e-mail service is subject to the group home rule pertaining to contraband. In addition, they will not be permitted to be involved in harassment, bullying, defraud or any other illegal activities. All use of the electronic media is subject to close supervision by group home staff.
· Contraband is the receipt of any item that is banned from the group home or determined to be detrimental to the child or other residents in the group home. This includes but is not limited to:
o Weapons
o Non-prescribed drugs and paraphernalia
o Alcohol and tobacco products
o Pornography
· No staff may open a child’s mail at any time; if there is a suspicion that contraband is being received the child must open the mail in view of agency staff
· All youth are subject to the same requirements as agency employees regarding the use of electronic media ( See policies # 401, 402, 403 below )
Use of Computer Hardware and Software
Policy #: 401
Purpose:
The purpose of this policy is to establish employee and Group Home Resident’s procedures regarding the use of the Information Services network, including computer hardware and software, computer communications, and to protect the integrity of the agency’s database. This policy is necessary to establish appropriate use and prevent misuse of agency personal computers, associated hardware and software, electronic mail (e-mail), the Internet and online services.
The agency respects the individual privacy of its employees and Group Home Resident’s. However, employee and Group Home Resident’s privacy does not extend to the employee’s and Group Home Resident’s work-related conduct including the use of agency computers, equipment and supplies. Employees and Group Home Resident’s should have no expectation of privacy when they use agency computer equipment, including but not limited to, software, files, e-mail and Internet browsing.
Agency computers, computer software and computer accounts are to assist employees in the performance of their duties and Group Home Resident’s in the use of electronic media. All employees have the responsibility to use all computer resources and services in an efficient, effective, ethical and lawful manner.