La. Admin. Code tit. 67 § III-6943

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section III-6943 - Services for Children

A. Guiding Principles. These standards require that family violence programs establish common quality intervention services. Participation in intervention services shall be voluntary.

B. Critical Minimum Standards

1. Standard 15.1. Each program must have a written policy prohibiting the use of corporal punishment on children by either the parent or the provider of care while a family is residing in a shelter. Parents must be provided a copy of the policy.

C. Minimum Standards

1. Standard 15.2. The program must recognize the special needs of survivors children and provide services specific to them.

2. Standard 15.3. All in-person services for children must be provided at the request of the guardian and with the guardians permission.

3. Standard 15.4. Family violence programs must provide children services to both residential and nonresidential children.

4. Standard 15.5. The program must provide the following services for children:

a. child intake and assessment;

b. safety planning with the parent and child;

c. individual planning and support contacts;

d. advocacy with outside systems;

e. information and referral services;

f. support groups and/or play groups;

g. information about domestic violence and trauma in an age appropriate manner; and

h. an orientation for children residing in a shelter.

5. Standard 15.6. Children services must be provided by qualified, trained staff members or volunteers that are trained in the following:

a. the developmental stages of childhood, including physical, social, cognitive, and emotional stages;

b. developmentally appropriate ways of working with children;

c. a working knowledge of family violence and its effects on survivors and children;

d. positive discipline techniques;

e. nonviolent conflict resolution;

f. the warning signs of abuse;

g. appropriate methods for interviewing children who have disclosed abuse;

h. trauma informed care; and

i. a working knowledge of the child welfare system.

6. Standard 15.7. Children services must include the use of child support groups.

a. Support groups are a time to allow children to play in a safe, structured environment. The support group is to be based on a developmentally appropriate philosophy. While the support group is planned and facilitated by a child advocate, the children direct their own progress in the group. This empowers the child, offers the child a safe and appropriate place to say "No," and teaches consistency, structure, and nonviolent conflict resolution.

b. The goals of the childrens support group are to break the silence about abuse, to learn how to protect oneself, to have a positive experience, and to strengthen self-esteem and self-image.

7. Standard 15.8. Program staff members must make available to the childs parent education, support, and access to resources. Child advocates must be available to meet with each parent at least once a week in individual sessions to provide information and support to ensure that:

a. information is available and provided to parents about domestic violence and its complex effect on parents and their children; and

b. provides the childs parent with nonviolent options for disciplining his or her child.

8. Standard 15.9. The program must have in place a way to provide and arrange transportation to attend school for a child in residence.

9. Standard 15.10. Access to child care options must be provided to residential families. Situations in which child care options may be provided include:

a. during the parents intake;

b. during support group sessions;

c. when the parent may be looking for housing or employment;

d. when the parent is in counseling;

e. while the parent is meeting with attorneys and attending court proceedings; and

f. during all appointments and meetings in which caring for the child could be disruptive or when the child might overhear the parent talking about his or her abuse.

La. Admin. Code tit. 67, § III-6943

Promulgated by the Department of Children and Family Services, Economic Stability Section, LR 4435 (1/1/2018).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 46:2121-2128.