N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 18 § 900.10

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 45, November 2, 2024

Section 900.10 - Resident services

(a) All facilities.

(1) In all facilities, families must be provided with services which include at a minimum: sleeping area, access to three meals a day, supervision, and health services. In addition, facilities must assist residents in making application for income entitlements or public benefits such as public assistance, medical assistance, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income, title XX or child welfare or unemployment benefits. Procedures must be developed for each facility which will allow residents of the facility to apply for benefits at the nearest income maintenance center or social services district office.

(2) Health services.

(i) Facilities must have an established relationship with a fully accredited medical institution or clinic for the referral of families for emergency treatment. Facilities must assist families to access medical services for initial examinations and treatment for illness and disease.

(ii) Family members with minor communicable diseases, or who have minor localized infections, must be properly isolated and quarantined if allowed to remain in the facility.

(iii) Family members with a generalized systemic communicable disease, or a readily communicable local infection which cannot be properly isolated and quarantined in the facility must be transferred to an appropriate medical facility or to another shelter facility which is designed to accommodate such a condition.

(b) Tier I facilities. In addition to the resident services provided in accordance with subdivision (a) of this section, a tier I facility must:

(1) complete a written preliminary needs determination for each family within two days of admission. Facility staff and the family must discuss the immediate needs of the family, including any benefits or services which if immediately provided to the family would facilitate their return to permanent housing in less than 21 days. An evaluation shall also be made of the educational needs, community ties, and other needs of the family in order to determine the most appropriate temporary placement for the family pursuant to section 900.7 of this Part; and

(2) provide a family who is being housed in a tier I facility for more than 21 days with the services such family would have received pursuant to subdivision (c) of this section in a tier II facility if the family had been placed in such a facility.

(c) Tier II facilities. In addition to the resident services provided in accordance with subdivision (a) of this section, a tier II facility must provide the following resident services:

(1) Assessment services.

(i) Within 10 days of admission to a tier II facility the family and staff of the facility must have developed and mutually agreed to a written services plan designed to help the family to achieve permanent housing arrangements. This services plan must include an assessment of the family's needs, an analysis of how these needs will be met through existing public assistance and care programs, including child welfare programs, and the steps that will be taken to achieve the service needs of the family. A social services district may substitute an independent living plan developed in accordance with the provisions of section 352.35 of this Title for the written services plan, provided that it contains the elements described in section 900.9(d) of this Part.

(ii) The services or independent living plan must be reviewed with the family biweekly and such plan must be revised as necessary to obtain permanent housing. The family shall have access to its services or independent living plan and case file.

(iii) The facility or social services district must document the resident services or independent living plan and all direct services and service referrals to other entities provided while the resident family is in the facility.

(2) Preparation for permanent housing.

(i) Preparation for permanent housing must be provided which implements the services or independent living plan designed to help the family obtain permanent housing.

(ii) At a minimum, preparation for permanent housing must include assistance in:

(a) obtaining permanent housing including assistance in locating adequate available housing, providing referrals to such housing, providing assistance in obtaining needed documents, providing advocacy assistance in the completion and filing of housing applications, scheduling of appointments for viewings and inspections of premises, providing assistance in preparing for interviews, and providing assistance in establishing competency skills for permanent housing by addressing issues such as budgeting, accessing community resources, housekeeping, home repairs and landlord/tenant rights;

(b) securing necessary supportive social and mental health services including, but not limited to, psychiatric and drug and alcohol abuse services; and

(c) securing employment assessments, job training and job placement services, where appropriate.

(3) Recreational services. Appropriate recreational services must be provided.

(4) Information and referral services. Facilities must maintain a listing of local community agencies and programs whose services might assist residents to return to permanent housing. Facility staff must refer residents to such programs, as needed and when appropriate.

(5) Child care services.

(i) Supervised care of all children must be provided when such care is necessary to enable the parent or caretaker relative of such child to seek employment and/or permanent housing or to attend school or training. Staff responsible for such care and supervision of the children must have prior experience in child care or must receive adequate training to enable them to perform such functions.

(ii) If child care is provided onsite, the staff/child ratios for adults providing supervised care other than recreational services for preschool children and for school-age children not in attendance at school must be a minimum of one adult per 8 children and one adult per 15 children, respectively. For the purpose of this section, a suitable adult resident may be counted as staff for the purpose of the supervised care ratios.

(iii) If child care is provided offsite, the day care center or family day care home must be in compliance with all applicable State and local requirements concerning licensing and operations.

(iv) Day care may be provided onsite, provided the appropriate agency has licensed the program and the social services district has committed to fund the program using title XX or other appropriate funding sources.

(d) Congregate shelters for homeless pregnant women. In addition to the resident services provided in accordance with subdivision (a) of this section, a congregate shelter for homeless pregnant women must provide the following services:

(1) Health services. Shelters must demonstrate that the services listed below are available to residents of the shelter. If the services are to be provided at the shelter, the medical provider must be licensed by the appropriate entity to provide services at the shelter site. Services include:

(i) initial medical evaluation of each resident; and

(ii) comprehensive prenatal care services which include:

(a) prenatal risk assessment;

(b) prenatal care visits and laboratory procedures;

(c) referral for special tests, consultations and hospitalization, and mechanisms to assure that services were received;

(d) health education regarding prenatal nutrition, alcohol and tobacco use, drug abuse, use of medication, other aspects of prenatal care, labor and delivery, family planning to prevent future unintended pregnancies, breast feeding, infant care and parenting;

(e) referral for pediatric care;

(f) referral for nutrition services including screening, education, counseling, follow- up and provision of services under the women, infants and children's program and the supplemental nutrition assistance program;

(g) referral for mental health and related social services including screening and counseling;

(h) arrangements for delivery and post-partum services; and

(i) assistance with transportation for prenatal care services.

(2) Casework services. Congregate shelters for homeless pregnant women must provide casework services designed to identify current needs, possible community supports and future needs of its residents. A written services plan must identify all services provided to the resident and the goals the resident hopes to achieve. Case workers must meet at least biweekly with residents to review the residents' progress and to identify any problems.

(3) Permanent housing services. Congregate shelters for homeless pregnant women must provide assistance designed to enable each resident to obtain permanent housing. Such assistance must include: assistance in locating adequate available housing, providing referrals to such housing, providing assistance in obtaining needed documents, providing advocacy assistance in the completion and filing of housing applications, scheduling of appointments for rentals and inspections of premises, providing assistance in preparing for interviews, and providing assistance to establish competency skills for permanent housing by addressing issues such as budgeting community resources, housekeeping, home repairs and landlord/tenant rights.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 18 § 900.10