Section 325.55  Children in Temporary Living and Independent Living Programs

a)         Temporary Living and Independent Living programs shall have a written policy, approved by each program's on-call physician and governing body, for the safe and accurate administration of medications to all youth in the program.

b)         Youth entering Temporary Living and Independent Living programs should be able to self-administer their medications.

1)         If a youth entering a Temporary Living program is unable to self-administer his/her medications, the program staff shall determine whether it is appropriate to support and train the youth to do so, or to deny placement.

2)         If a youth entering an Independent Living program is unable to self-administer his/her medications, the program staff shall deny admission.

c)         Each youth age 18 and over entering a Temporary Living or Independent Living program shall be asked to sign a consent authorizing program staff to obtain information from the youth's medical and psychiatric providers.  If a youth refuses or is reluctant to sign a consent, the caseworker shall be contacted.  The caseworker shall explain to the youth that program staff need this information to help the youth learn to meet his/her medical and mental health needs and provide appropriate consultation review of prescribed psychotropic medication.  If a youth over age 18 still refuses to sign a consent, it should be noted in the youth's service plan.

d)         Centralized Consent Unit and ERC staff shall use the same standards, forms and rules for approving psychotropic medication for youth under 18 years of age in Temporary Living and Independent Living programs as are set forth in Section 325.40.

(Source:  Added at 36 Ill. Reg. 3846, effective February 24, 2012)