(1) In addition to the child care agency staff referred to in ARM 37.97.206(7) through (12) , a residential treatment center must have on staff or under contract a licensed psychiatrist or licensed psychologist, an education program coordinator, teachers, a program administrator, a registered nurse, recreation staff and qualified treatment practitioners.

(2) Child care staff qualifications/ratio:

(a) Child care staff of a residential treatment center must have a bachelor's level degree or 3 years of experience in group child care or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

(b) Child care staff are involved in the ongoing daily care and custody of the residents.

(c) Child care staff/child ratio:

7 am to 11 pm	One awake staff person per each 6 children in the residence/unit with 1 staff person on call.
11 pm to 7 am	One awake staff person per each 12 children in the residence/unit with 1 staff person on call.

 

(3) Psychiatrist:

(a) The psychiatrist may be available to the residents and the child care staff for consultation, training and therapy as needed and may assist the administrative staff, treatment practitioners and education staff to understand the medical concepts in working with children and their families.

(4) Education program coordinator/teachers:

(a) The education program coordinator must have at least a bachelor's level degree in education and be certified by the state of Montana as a teacher.

(b) The education coordinator shall be on the staff of the agency and shall run the provider's education program.

(c) Teachers must be on staff or under contract with the agency and must meet the same qualifications as comparable teachers in the public school system in Montana and have training in special and/or remedial education.

(5) Administrator:

(a) The residential treatment center administrator must have a bachelor's degree and 4 years of experience in residential child care or a master's degree and 2 years of residential child care experience. Prior relevant administrative and supervisory experience may be substituted for residential child care experience.

(b) The residential treatment center administrator has overall responsibility for management of the agency's treatment program, clinical services, physical environment and finances, including but not limited to:

(i) planning and implementation of programs and services within the framework of policies set by the board; and

(ii) the design and control of fiscal procedures needed to assure program stability and fiduciary responsibility; and

(iii) establishing good community relations and ways of integrating the children and staff into community activities and service networks.

(6) Psychologist(s) :

(a) The services of a psychologist shall be used to provide a diagnosis and to contribute to treatment plans for each child.

(b) The psychologist(s) shall provide, consult or supervise:

(i) administering of psychometric tests on an individual basis and interpreting the findings;

(ii) direct treatment of selected children in individual and/or group sessions;

(iii) involvement by residents in psychotherapy, behavior management, counseling and other therapy;

(iv) participation in ongoing and aftercare planning, as requested by the program administrator, and in periodically evaluating the progress of each child in treatment;

(v) consultation to individual staff members who are responsible for direct treatment of children in formulating and modifying treatment plans; and

(vi) in-service training for staff to help staff understand symptomatic behavior and to enable them to deal with it in the way that is best for the child.

(7) Registered nurse:

(a) The nurse must be registered by the state board of nursing.

(b) The registered nurse shall be under contract or on staff of the agency and may be involved in routine treatment of physical ailments, administering medication, staff and client physical examinations and medical consultation.

(8) Treatment practitioner:

(a) Treatment practitioner(s) must be on staff of the agency and have at least a master's degree in psychology, social work, or other counseling field or a bachelor's degree and 2 years of experience in family, individual and group work, and shall receive, as needed, consultation on specific cases by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist.

(b) The practitioner(s) may be involved chiefly in treatment planning; case consultation; family, individual and group therapy; and the development of individual treatment plans for children in the treatment program.