(1) "Active treatment" means an individualized plan of therapeutic interventions provided by or under the direction and supervision of a treatment supervisor directed at specific symptoms and/or behaviors, and which is designed to achieve discharge of the youth at the earliest possible time.

(2) "Youth" means a person under the age of 21 years.

(3) "Clinical experience" means experience in the direct provision of therapeutic interventions including the development of treatment plans under the direct supervision of a licensed clinical professional.

(4) "Department" means the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

(5) "Full-time equivalent" (FTE) means the staff person is employed or contracted for 40 hours per week of services in connection with provision of therapeutic family care.

(6) "Intensive level" means the supervision and intensity of treatment required in a therapeutic family as specified in this subchapter to manage and treat youths who present severe emotional and/or behavioral disorders as determined by the department in accordance with ARM 37.37.310. This level of therapeutic family care must be reapproved by the department every 90 days. An individual treatment plan, developed according to the youth's age, diagnosis and behaviors, determines treatment needs. This level requires:

(a) the services of a mental health assistant who receives routine guidance from the treatment parents; and

(b) specialized support services.

(7) "Licensed clinical professional" means a Montana-licensed medical doctor, clinical psychologist, masters level social worker (MSW) , or professional counselor.

(8) "Mental health assistant" means a person who is an employee of, or under contract with, the therapeutic family care agency, who provides support services under the supervision of the treatment supervisor or the treatment manager, to a youth certified to receive therapeutic family care, at the intensive level. A mental health assistant must be a high school graduate with at least two years of experience working with emotionally disturbed youth or developmentally disabled youth or providing direct services in a human services field or be a high school graduate with a combination of education and experience equivalent to two years experience. Each year of post-secondary education in a human services field equals one year of experience.

(9) "Moderate level" means the supervision and intensity of treatment required in a therapeutic family as specified in this subchapter to manage and treat youths who present severe emotional and/or behavioral disorders as determined by the department in accordance with ARM 37.37.310. An individual treatment plan, developed according to the youth's age, diagnosis and behaviors, determines treatment needs. Specialized behavior management techniques are required for some youth at this level of therapeutic family care.

(10) "Therapeutic family care" means out-of-home care and medical treatment provided to emotionally disturbed youth by a treatment family or treatment parent(s) in the therapeutic family setting. Therapeutic families are recruited, recommended by the therapeutic family care agency for licensure by the department and trained by the therapeutic family care agency.

(11) "Therapeutic family care agency" means an agency licensed by the department as a child placing agency and under contract with the department to provide supervision, training, recruitment, and recommendation for licensure pursuant to ARM 37.93.716, of therapeutic families, and direct treatment services for youths placed with therapeutic families. Therapeutic family care agencies must employ or contract for treatment supervisors, treatment managers, mental health assistants, and administrative staff.

(12) "Treatment manager" means a person who is an employee of, or under contract with, the therapeutic family care agency. The treatment manager, under the supervision of the treatment supervisor, develops individual treatment plans, provides therapeutic interventions to youths receiving therapeutic family care, and provides supervision and professional guidance to the treatment parents. A treatment manager must have a bachelor's degree in a human services field, or the experience or experience and education, equivalent to a bachelor's degree. Human services experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree for a non-degree program manager is six years. Each year of post-secondary education in human services for a non-degree program manager equals one year of experience.

(13) "Treatment parent(s) " or "treatment family(ies) " means an adult or adults responsible for the day-to-day care and supervision of youth placed in the home of the treatment parent(s) or treatment family(ies) . Treatment parents or treatment families provide specific treatment interventions as determined by the youth's individual treatment plan. The treatment manager, under the supervision of the treatment supervisor, supervises all treatment interventions provided in therapeutic family care. On the intensive level of therapeutic family care, treatment parent(s) provide routine guidance to the mental health assistant.

(14) "Treatment supervisor" means a person who is an employee of, or under contract with, the therapeutic family care agency who is responsible for the supervision and overall provision of treatment services to youths in therapeutic family care. The treatment supervisor must be a clinical psychologist, masters level social worker, licensed professional counselor, or have a master's degree in a human services field with a minimum of one year of clinical experience. A treatment supervisor must spend as much time as necessary with subordinate staff, treatment parents, and youths receiving therapeutic family care to assure that services are provided in an appropriate, safe and effective manner.

(15) "Treatment team" means those individuals identified as responsible for, or having a direct interest in, the treatment services provided to a specific youth. A treatment team must be composed of the professionals providing direct treatment services, the treatment family(ies) , and the placing professionals. When necessary and appropriate, the treatment team may also include the youth receiving the therapeutic services, the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the youth, siblings of the youth, representatives of the local schools, tribal representatives, or other individuals significant to the youth.