(1) The licensed mental health center's CSCT program must be provided through a program of services delivered by a team or teams.

(2) Each team must consist of a full-time equivalent licensed mental health professional, as that term is defined in ARM 37.106.1902, and an aide. An in-training mental health practitioner pursuant to ARM 37.88.901 may be a team member. Full-time equivalent is defined in ARM 37.27.102.

(3) A full-time equivalent team is limited to the billing amounts as set forth in ARM 37.86.2225.

(4) A CSCT program must employ or contract with a program supervisor who is knowledgeable about the service and support needs of children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances. The program supervisor may be a member of a team providing direct services.

(5) This rule is not intended to prevent the use of part-time staff to provide CSCT services throughout the year, including school vacation periods. If a child or adolescent receives CSCT services during time periods when school is not regularly in session, then part-time staff may be used and billed as set forth in ARM 37.86.2225.

(6) The licensed mental health center's CSCT program must be delivered by adequately trained staff. Training must be documented and maintained in the personnel files.

(7) If a nonlicensed team member is employed, that individual must have a high school diploma or a general education degree (GED) and one year of relevant experience.

(a) The nonlicensed team member must receive ten hours of training during the first three months of employment that includes de-escalation training, child development, and how and when to implement behavior management. The ten hours of initial training may be combined with the required 18 hours of annual training mandated for all team members.

(8) All team members are required to receive a minimum of 18 hours training per year in behavior management strategies that focus on the prevention of behavior problems for children or adolescents with serious emotional disturbance (SED) . Training must include:

(a) positive behavioral intervention planning and support;

(b) classroom and child or adolescent management techniques that include nationally certified de-escalation training;

(c) evidence and research based behavior interventions and practices;

(d) therapeutic de-escalation of crisis situations for the protection and safety of the clients and staff; and

(e) physical and nonphysical methods of managing children and adolescents.