2018 Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 245 - 267 — PUBLIC WELFARE AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
Chapter 245A — HUMAN SERVICES LICENSING
Section 245A.1443 — CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY PROGRAMS THAT SERVE PARENTS WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

Subdivision 1. Application. This section applies to chemical dependency treatment facilities that are licensed under this chapter and Minnesota Rules, chapter 9530, and that provide services in accordance with section 245G.19.

Subd. 2. Requirements for providing education. (a) On or before the date of a child's initial physical presence at the facility, the license holder must provide education to the child's parent related to safe bathing and reducing the risk of sudden unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma from shaking infants and young children. At a minimum, the education must address:

(1) instruction that a child or infant should never be left unattended around water, a tub should be filled with only two to four inches of water for infants, and an infant should never be put into a tub when the water is running; and

(2) the risk factors related to sudden unexpected infant death and abusive head trauma from shaking infants and young children, and means of reducing the risks, including the safety precautions identified in section 245A.1435 and the dangers of co-sleeping.

(b) The license holder must document the parent's receipt of the education and keep the documentation in the parent's file. The documentation must indicate whether the parent agrees to comply with the safeguards. If the parent refuses to comply, program staff must provide additional education to the parent at appropriate intervals, at least weekly for the duration of the parent's participation in the program or until the parent agrees to comply with the safeguards.

Subd. 3. Parental supervision of children. (a) On or before the date of a child's initial physical presence at the facility, the license holder must complete and document an assessment of the parent's capacity to meet the health and safety needs of the child while on the facility premises, including identifying circumstances when the parent may be unable to adequately care for their child due to:

(1) the parent's physical or mental health;

(2) the parent being under the influence of drugs, alcohol, medications, or other chemicals;

(3) the parent being unable to provide appropriate supervision for the child; or

(4) any other information available to the license holder that indicates the parent may not be able to adequately care for the child.

(b) The license holder must have written procedures specifying the actions to be taken by staff if a parent is or becomes unable to adequately care for the parent's child.

Subd. 4. Alternative supervision arrangements. The license holder must have written procedures addressing whether the program permits a parent to arrange for supervision of the parent's child by another client in the program. If permitted, the facility must have a procedure that requires staff approval of the supervision arrangement before the supervision by the nonparental client occurs. The procedure for approval must include an assessment of the nonparental client's capacity to assume the supervisory responsibilities using the criteria in subdivision 3. The license holder must document the license holder's approval of the supervisory arrangement and the assessment of the nonparental client's capacity to supervise the child, and must keep this documentation in the file of the parent of the child being supervised.

History: 2015 c 78 art 4 s 17; 2018 c 182 art 2 s 11