NCJ Number
55526
Date Published
1976
Length
112 pages
Annotation
POLICY AND PROCEDURE GOVERNING MASSACHUSETTS' INTENSIVE CARE PROGRAM FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS WHOSE PROBLEMS CANNOT BE DEALT WITH IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS ARE SET FORTH.
Abstract
YOUTHS ASSIGNED TO INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ARE THOSE WHO FORMERLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SENT TO LARGE INSTITUTIONS. ASSIGNMENTS TO INTENSIVE CARE ARE MADE ONLY AFTER ALL COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES FOR TREATMENT HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED. THE INTENSIVE CARE PROGRAM INVOLVES DECISIONMAKERS AT THE STATE, REGIONAL, AND PROGRAM LEVEL. THE INTENSIVE CARE TEAM, CONSISTING OF REPRENSETATIVES FROM EACH LEVEL, SERVES AS AN ADVISORY AND POLICYMAKING BODY FOR THE OVERALL PROGRAM. THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN THE MANUAL REFLECT A NUMBER OF CRITICAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE INTENSIVE CARE PROCESS, RANGING FROM THE NEED FOR SECURE RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENTS AND INTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT FOR SEVERELY DISTURBED YOUTHS, TO THE NEED FOR RESPONSIBLE CASE MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE PROGRAMS AND FOR ADEQUATE SUPPORT FROM THE STATE. THE MANUAL DELINEATES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH DECISIONMAKER AT EACH STAGE OF THE INTENSIVE CARE PROCESS: REFERRAL, INTAKE, PROGRAM INVOLVEMENT, DISCHARGE, AND FOLLOWUP. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ARE DESCRIBED, AS ARE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING THE AGREEMENTS THAT DOCUMENT AND MONITOR EACH YOUTH'S PROGRESS THROUGH THE INTENSIVE CARE PROCESS. FOR EACH STAGE OF THE PROCESS, A CHART SUMMARIZES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MAJOR DECISIONMAKER INVOLVED, THE INTENSIVE CARE TEAM, THE REGIONAL DECISIONMAKER, THE TREATMENT PROGRAM, AND THE YOUTH. PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE ALLOCATION OF SLOTS--OPENINGS IN INTENSIVE CARE FACILITIES--ARE OUTLINED, AS ARE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING APPEALS OF INTENSIVE CARE REFERRALS. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE THE CODING SYSTEMS USED IN MASSACHUSETTS' FIVE INTENSIVE CARE UNITS TO CLASSIFY THEIR CLIENTS' SECURITY REQUIREMENTS, PROGRESS, AND PRIVILEGES. (LKM)