Placement in residential treatment or Department of Mental Health (DMH) Developmental Disabilities (DD) settings shall be the least restrictive placement settings to meet the specific needs of the child (an individual under twenty-one years of age, sometimes referred to as “youth”).  Group placement settings may also called “congregate care” or “institutional” settings.  It is important to explore and attempt lesser placement types prior to placement in a residential setting to the extent possible.

This sub-section describes the process of referring a child in out-of-home care to a residential treatment program or a DMH placement.  If residential treatment or a DMH placement is determined to be in the best interest of the child, as discussed below, all treatment planning shall be tied to the child’s permanency plan, and discharge planning shall begin at the time of admission.

Residential treatment may be appropriate for children with significant emotional and/or psychiatric needs, learning difficulties, behavioral disorders, trauma histories, and developmental disabilities or problems. Children suited for this type of placement are often unable to function adequately within the family, the school, or the community and are in need of additional support which cannot be reasonably met in a foster home setting.

Regardless of the reason a child is in need of residential placement, the goal of all levels of treatment must be focused on stabilizing the child’s behaviors so that he/she may be able to return to the community and least restrictive placement.

All children in the custody of the Children’s Division shall be placed in a facility that is licensed and contracted with the Division for residential treatment services, or licensed/certified by the DMH and contracted with on a case-by-case need.

Residential treatment or DMH placements for a child under the age of seven (7) years shall only be considered once other resources have been explored.  However, certain behavior and/or physical conditions can exist which would indicate a need for a structured treatment setting for such a child.  In most instances, a foster home setting is preferable to another setting.  Residential treatment for children under seven (7) years of age shall be indicated as necessary through professional evaluations and recommendations by qualified professionals such as a child psychologist. Residential treatment and/or a DMH placement for a child under the age of seven (7) must be recommended by the Family Support Team (FST) after evaluations and recommendations by qualified professionals are completed and reviewed.