Rule 24-2-29.4 - Community Living HandbookA. In addition to information contained in the agency provider's policies and procedures manual, Therapeutic Group Home providers must develop a handbook which includes all policies and procedures for provision of Therapeutic Group Home Services. Handbooks are to be provided to the person/parent(s)/legal representative(s) during orientation. The Community Living Handbook must be readily available for review by employees and must be updated as needed.B. All agency providers of Therapeutic Group Home Services must document that each person (and/or parent[s]/legal representative[s]) is provided with a handbook and orientation on the day of admission. The agency provider must document the review of the handbook with the person annually (if applicable to the service).C. All Therapeutic Group Home providers must have a written plan for soliciting input from people about all sections of the handbook.D. The service and site-specific handbook must be written in a person-first, person-friendly manner that can be readily understood by the person/parent(s)/legal representative(s).E. Therapeutic Group Home providers must have a written plan for providing the handbook information in a person's language of choice when necessary if English is not the person's primary language.F. The Community Living Handbook may not be a book of rules.G. The handbook may not include any rules or restrictions that infringe on or limit the person's ability to live in the least restricted environment possible or that limit or restrict the rights of people receiving services specified in Chapter 14 of these standards.H. At a minimum, the Community Living Handbook must address the following:1. A person-friendly, person-first definition and description of the community living service being provided;2. The philosophy, purpose and overall goals of the service, to include but are not limited to:(a) Methods for accomplishing stated goals and objectives;(b) Expected results/outcomes; and,(c) Methods to evaluate expected results/outcomes.3. A description of how the Therapeutic Group Home service addresses the following items, to include but not limited to: (a) Visitation guidelines (applying to family, significant others, friends and other visitors) that are appropriate to Therapeutic Group Home services;(1) Person's right to define his/her family and support systems for visitation purposes unless clinically/socially contraindicated;(2) All actions regarding visitors (restrictions, defining individual and family support systems, etc.) must be documented in the person's record;(3) Any restrictions on visitors must be reviewed whenever there is an identified need or request by the person to change any of the restrictions;(4) Visitation rights must not be withheld as punishment and may not be limited in ways that unreasonably infringe on the person's stated rights; and,(5) To the greatest extent possible, people should have visitors of their choosing at any time.(b) Daily private communication (phone, mail, email, etc.) without hindrance unless clinically contraindicated: (1) Any restrictions on private telephone use must be reviewed daily;(2) All actions regarding restrictions on outside communication must be documented in the person's record; and,(3) Communication rights must not be withheld as punishment and may not be limited in ways that unreasonably infringe on the person's stated rights.(g) Respecting the rights of other people's privacy, safety, health and choices.4. Policy regarding the search of the person's room, person and/or possessions, to include but not limited to: (a) Circumstances in which a search may occur;(b) Employees designated to authorize searches;(c) Documentation of searches; and,(d) Consequences of discovery of prohibited items.5. Policy regarding screening for prohibited/illegal substances, to include but not limited to: (a) Circumstances in which screens may occur;(b) Employees designated to authorize screening;(c) Documentation of screening;(d) Consequences of positive screening of prohibited substances;(e) Consequences of refusing to submit to a screening; and,(f) Process for people to report in a confidential manner the use of prohibited substances prior to being screened.I. Criteria for termination/discharge from the Therapeutic Group Home Service.J. Agency providers must also address: 1. A description of the meals, which must be provided at least three (3) times per day, and snacks to be provided. This must include development of a menu with input from people living in the residence that includes varied, nutritious meals and snacks and a description of how/when meals and snacks will be prepared. People must have access to food at any time, unless prohibited by their individual plan;2. Personal hygiene care and grooming, including any assistance that might be needed;3. Medication management (including storing and dispensing); and,4. Prevention of and protection from infection, including communicable diseases.K. Agency providers must develop policies regarding pets and animals on the premises for all Therapeutic Group Homes. Section 41-4-7 of the Mississippi Code, 1972, as Amended