Rule 24-2-29.3 - Therapeutic Group Homes for Children/Youth with Serious Emotional DisturbanceA. Agency providers of Therapeutic Group Homes must also meet the requirements in Rule 29.1.B. The maximum bed capacity of each Therapeutic Group Home is ten (10) beds per home for children/youth twelve (12) years of age through age twenty (20) years and (11) eleven months and eight (8) beds for children/youth ages six (6) years through eleven (11) years and eleven (11) months. DMH may require a lower bed capacity than described in this standard, depending on the age, developmental or level of functioning, or intensity of need for intervention and supervision of the population of children/youth served in the individual home.C. There may be no more than two (2) children/youth per bedroom in a Therapeutic Group Home. The agency provider must ensure that the employees on-site are of a sufficient number to provide adequate supervision of children/youth in a safe, therapeutic home environment and must meet the following minimum requirements: 1. In Therapeutic Group Homes with five (5) or fewer children/youth, at least one (1) employee (which can be a direct support worker or house parent) with at least a Bachelor's degree in a mental health or related field must be assigned to direct service responsibilities for the children/youth during all hours.2. For Therapeutic Group Homes with six (6) to ten (10) children/youth, at least two (2) employees must be assigned to direct service responsibilities during all hours children/youth are awake and not in school. One (1) of the two (2) employees can be a direct support worker or house parent and one (1) must be a professional employee with at least a Bachelor's degree in a mental health or related field.3. Have a full-time director who is on-site at least forty (40) hours per week.4. Other appropriate professional employees must be available to assist in emergencies, at least on an on-call basis, at all times.5. DMH may require an employee to youth ratio lower than described above, depending on the age, developmental or functional level, or intensity of need for intervention and supervision of the population of children/youth served by the individual home.D. A licensed psychiatrist and a professionally licensed or DMH credentialed Mental Health Therapist with experience working with children/youth must be available for children/youth served by the Therapeutic Group Home.E. Services must provide each child/youth with therapeutic activities and experience in the skills he/she needs to support a successful transition to a less restrictive setting or level of service.F. The mental health therapist is required to have at least one (1) individual therapy session per week with the child/youth.G. Transition plans must be developed within ninety (90) days prior to completion of a Therapeutic Group Home service and be included in the child/youth's record and shared with community service providers.H. Animal/Pet policies must address, at a minimum, the following:1. Documentation of vaccinations against rabies and all other diseases communicable to humans must be maintained at the service location;2. Procedures to ensure pets will be maintained in a sanitary manner (no fleas, ticks, unpleasant odors, etc.);3. Procedures to ensure pets will be kept away from food preparation sites and eating areas; and,4. Procedures for controlling pets to prevent injury to people living in the home as well as visitors and employees (e.g., animal in crate, put outside, put in a secure room, etc.). Section 41-4-7 of the Mississippi Code, 1972, as Amended