N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:56-10.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 3A:56-10.1 - General requirements

(a) Any home or agency that provides services to pregnant adolescents and adolescent parents caring for their children shall meet all requirements of this subchapter and all applicable requirements of subchapters 1 through 9 of this manual (N.J.A.C. 3A:56-1 through 9).

(b) The home or agency shall provide services that include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Services regarding paternal involvement;

2. Services to the adolescent's family;

3. Parenting education;

4. Infant stimulation;

5. Health education and physical care of the adolescent mothers and infants;

6. Nutrition; and

7. Life skills development.

(c) The home shall provide the following indoor space:

1. A private place where adolescents can store their belongings and those of their infant and shall provide the adolescents access to this place at all times;

2. Sufficient space to accommodate tables and chairs for all adolescents and on-duty child care staff to eat meals together;

3. Adequate space for the implementation of treatment services including individual counseling sessions, parent training sessions, family counseling sessions and case management planning meetings; and

4. The following floor space for bedrooms:

i. At least 70 square feet for the first occupant of a bedroom and 50 additional square feet for each additional occupant. The home shall not allow more than four occupants, including adolescents and/or infants, to sleep in the same bedroom; and

ii. For each adolescent and infant, at least 35 square feet of common living space, defined as those areas that adolescents and infants can use for socializing or recreation during waking hours. The dining area shall not be included in determining compliance with this requirement, unless the dining area is accessible to adolescents and infants outside of meal time.

(d) The home shall maintain all indoor areas in a safe and sanitary manner by ensuring that:

1. There are no poisonous plants;

2. Any corrosive agents, insecticides, bleaches, detergents, polishes, any products under pressure in an aerosol spray can, and any toxic substance are stored in locked cabinets or enclosed in areas not accessible to infants;

3. All electrical outlets accessible to infants have protective covers;

4. All fluorescent tubes and incandescent light bulbs have protective covers or shields;

5. All windows and other glass surfaces that are not made of safety glass and that are located within three feet above the floor shall have protective guards unless the home does not provide services to ambulatory infants or toddlers;

6. Staff has access to any bedrooms that the adolescents are allowed to lock;

7. Non-permanent safety barriers (safety gates) are installed to prevent infants from falling if the home has stairs, ramps, balconies, porches or elevated play areas;

8. Materials and furniture for indoor and outdoor use are of sturdy and safe construction, easy to clean and free of hazards that may be injurious to adolescents and infants;

9. Infants are kept away from hot stoves, irons and ironing boards, knives, glassware and other equipment that may cause injury; and

10. Poisons, insect traps, and rodent traps are kept out of the reach of infants.

(e) The home shall maintain all outdoor areas in a safe and sanitary manner by ensuring that:

1. Non-permanent safety barriers (safety gates) are installed to block steps used by infants, unless the steps are blocked by a door;

2. Snow is removed from sidewalks and from the walkways and paths leading to the entrances and exits of the home:

i. Within 24 hours of cessation of snowfall; or

ii. According to local ordinance; and

3. All drains and wells have protective coverings.

(f) The home shall provide a crib for each infant under 18 months of age but may allow infants to sleep in a playpen or on a mat at least one-inch thick on the floor for naps during the daytime.

(g) The home shall provide a crib or bed for each infant 18 months of age or older.

(h) The home shall ensure that:

1. Crib and playpen slats are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart;

2. Crib, bed and playpen mattresses are fire retardant;

3. The top rails of the crib or playpen are at least 19 inches above the mattress;

4. Drop-side cribs are not used and all cribs in use meet all additional Federal standards as evidenced by possession of a certificate of compliance;

5. The mattress used in all cribs and playpens fits snugly;

6. Each infant has sheets for his or her exclusive use, which are:

i. Immediately replaced when wet, soiled or damaged; and

ii. Laundered at least once a week;

7. Cribs and playpens are free of hazards including, but not limited to, use of mobiles (for infants six months of age or older, unless the infant/toddler is developmentally delayed and would benefit from a mobile) soft objects, loose bedding, pillows, blankets, and bumper pads and toys;

8. Beds or cribs not used solely for a specific infant shall have sheets replaced with clean sheets before each use;

9. Wedges and positioners are not used;

10. Infants are placed on their backs to sleep, unless medically directed to sleep in a different position;

11. Infants' heads are not covered while sleeping; and

12. Car seats and other sitting devices are never used for routine sleeping.

(i) The home shall provide beds for all adolescents and ensure that parenting adolescents do not co-sleep with their infants in the bed.

(j) The home shall prohibit use of bunk beds for pregnant adolescents, adolescent mothers and infants.

(k) The home shall not use lead paint on and shall remove lead paint from any interior or exterior surfaces of a building, or on any furniture, toys, or other equipment used therein if deemed hazardous by a governmental agency, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:56-4.4(g).

(l) The home shall ensure that each adolescent and infant has a personal supply of adequate, clean, well-fitting, and attractive clothing appropriate to his or her age, gender, individual needs, community standards, and season.

1. The home shall ensure that each adolescent's and infant's clothing is kept clean and in good repair; and the home may require adolescents to do their own laundry and that of their infant.

2. The home shall not require adolescents or infants to wear any article of clothing that would identify them as a resident of the home.

3. The home shall supply adolescents with necessary personal hygiene items.

N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:56-10.1

Administrative Change, 49 N.J.R. 98a.

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 135(a), effective 1/2/2018