(1) Houseparents, relief houseparents and other child care staff must meet the general requirements for child care staff set out in ARM 37.97.132.

(2) The provider shall establish minimum qualifications for child care staff and adopt a procedure for screening applicants.

(3) The youth shelter care facility program must have a minimum of one designated staff person who shall be responsible for the administration and management of the facility, including the supervision of the services provided to youth in placement.

Any staff person designated under this subsection hired after the effective date of this rule shall also have the following qualifications:

(a) a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in behavioral or social services; and

(b) at least 2 years of direct work experience in youth services.

(4) Within the first 30 days of the date of hire, all child care staff must receive a minimum of 16 hours of orientation.

(5) The provider shall establish orientation policy with the following minimum requirements:

(a) prior to assuming any duties as a regular child care staff member, each new staff member shall receive training covering:

(i) the provider's policy, procedures and program;

(ii) mandatory child abuse reporting laws;

(iii) crisis intervention methodologies;

(iv) fire safety, including facility evacuation routes; and

(v) confidentiality.

(b) within the first 7 days of the date of hire and prior to being the sole child care staff on duty with any youth, the employee shall receive training covering:

(i) the provider's response plan for critical behavioral and medical incidents; and

(ii) suicide prevention.

(c) within the first 30 days of the date of hire and prior to being the sole child care staff on duty, the employee shall receive training in CPR and first aid.

(i) all staff certified in CPR shall receive annual CPR training.

(d) in their first year of employment, child care staff shall attend 14 hours of training in addition to their participation in employee orientation. All other child care staff shall attend a minimum of 20 hours of training per year. Training shall be relevant to the child care staff person's responsibilities in the youth shelter care facility.

(6) Participation in all orientation and training shall be documented in the employee's personnel file.

(7) The resident to staff ratio on the premises shall not be more than 8:1 throughout a 24-hour period. At least one child care staff person shall provide awake coverage during designated sleep hours.

(8) There shall be a minimum of one child care staff person present who is directly responsible for resident care and activities when any resident is in the home.