606 CMR, § 3.01

Current through Register 1538, January 3, 2025

Section 3.01 - Introduction

606 CMR 3.00 is adopted in accordance with M.G.L. c. 15D which states the policy of state government to assure every child "a fair and full opportunity to reach his or her full potential". In order to fulfill its mandate as the agency responsible for licensing residential programs, the Department of Early Education and Care has developed specific standards for residential programs to provide this opportunity to the residents they serve.

The nature and scope of 606 CMR 3.00 are based on the belief that every aspect of a program's operation affects the residents in its care. The philosophy, administrative policies, staff, physical facility and clinical, recreational, and educational services all contribute to a resident's everyday living environment, and should maintain a level of quality that promotes healthy development. While acknowledging the variety of residential program types, including group care, temporary shelter, secure detention, transition to independent living, and programs serving teen parents, 606 CMR 3.00 identifies, to the fullest extent possible, the standards and practices necessary to fulfilling the following general goals:

(a) to provide a program that is administratively and fiscally sound with clearly conceived policies and practices for the services provided to residents;

(b) to provide residents with services, which on a short-term basis meet their immediate and emergency needs, and which allow for resolution of the immediate problems or the development of long-term plans;

(c) to meet each resident's needs relating to health, nutrition, individuality and interaction with peers and adults, before it can begin to satisfy the resident's more complex needs;

(d) to meet each resident's need for space, comfort, privacy and community while protecting residents from fire, health, and accident hazards;

(e) to provide each resident with the least intrusive intervention sufficient to insure her or his safety, the safety of others, and promote healthy growth and development;

(f) to provide residents with services and an environment which, on a long-term basis, meet the special needs their families are unable to fulfill.

606 CMR, § 3.01

Adopted by Mass Register Issue 1303, eff. 1/1/2016.

Amended by Mass Register Issue 1307, eff. 1/1/2016.