Section 410.100  Homeless Youth Staff

a)         A homeless youth supervisor shall be required for any shelter which is serving more than 10 homeless youth and shall:

1)         be at least 25 years of age;

2)         have obtained a high school diploma or GED certificate;

3)         have three years of full-time experience in a residential or shelter care program or in related youth service programs;

4)         demonstrate skill in working with and managing youth of the type served in the program; and

5)         demonstrate ability to work cooperatively with administrative staff and persons external to the program.

b)         Homeless youth caretakers are those persons whose primary responsibility is the daily supervision of the residents.  Persons employed in other capacities may function as homeless youth caretakers provided they are qualified as homeless youth caretakers and other duties do not interfere with supervision of the youth. Homeless youth caretakers shall:

1)         be at least 18 years of age, if there is an on-site supervisor.  If there is no on-site supervisor, child care staff must be at least 21 years of age;

2)         have obtained a high school diploma or GED certificate;

3)         be in good physical and mental health per Section 410.150;

4)         have demonstrated through employment or volunteer work:

A)        skills in the field of child care or the capacity to develop such skills;

B)        ability to work within the program structure and to accept supervision; and

C)        ability to work constructively with parents, other agencies and the community.

c)         Administrators may approve a foster parent licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services to serve as a homeless youth caretaker for up to six homeless youth in the licensed foster home provided space requirements are met and no other population of foster children is being served in the home.

(Source:  Amended at 21 Ill. Reg. 4596, effective April 1, 1997)