State Regulations for Residential Treatment Need YOUR INPUT!!!

Hey all,

This message comes from Alex Knapp, a PA youth leader working fro the Disability Rights Network.  He brought this issue to my attention and I thought it needed to be shared with you!

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My name is Alex and I am transition age youth mental health consumer and I want to alert you of a current document out for comment. The 3800 regulations are available and to ensure systematic change which will have positive impact on our age group your voice is essential. I realize this document, in its entirety is over 150 pages long and I do not assume that anyone will choose to review the entire thing, however, there are specific parts to the document that need our input!

I encourage you to review § 23.17 Reportable Incidents, § 23.18 Recordable Incidents, § 23.32 Specific Rights, § 23.102 Child Bedrooms, § 23. 183 Use of Prescription Medications, § 23.205 Emergency Safety Intervention, and § 23.229 Education. Below you will find a breakdown of some of these regulations and why you need to voice your opinions in response to them.

§ 23.17 Reportable Incidents & § 23.18 Recordable Incidents (Starts on page 18)
What must a facility report to the state? What must a facility record in your record? Who is mandated and who isn’t to provide initial contact and notification of restraints to your parents/legal guardians? Are you given the option of giving that initial contact? All of this information and more can be found in these sections.

§ 23.32 Specific Rights (Starts on page 29)
This is one of the most important sections found within the RTF regulations. This section outlines the rights of residents. Currently these rights do not include appropriate clothing for youth with different gender identities than their biological gender. With the recent suicides in the GLBTQ community gender identity must be protected. This section also discusses mailings, telephone communication, visitation, search and seizure, grievance procedure and methods of discipline.
IF YOU ONLY READ AND COMMENT ON ONE SECTION, THIS IS THE SECTION TO CHECK OUT!

§ 23.102 Child Bedrooms (Starts on page 52)
The new regulations allow for single rooms and rooms with two residents. This section states space mandates and furniture requirements. Currently they do not require a writing space or a private space to keep personal items. This information and more can be found in this section.

§ 23.183 Use of Prescription Medications (Starts on Page 73)
Can a child refuse medication? Who has the right to consent to medications for the child? What if a child over the age of 14 refuses to consent to specific medications but his parents do consent? This section speaks all about medications, consent and rights. It’s an important section and as transition-age youth needs our input.

§ 23.205 Emergency Safety Intervention (Starts on Page 81)
If you have ever been or have ever seen someone being restrained, you know it’s not fun or pleasurable. This section sets guidelines and mandates protocol of restraints. It needs reviewed by people who have lived it, the professionals say they have our best interest, but we have experienced it. This section NEEDS US!

§ 23.299 Education (Starts on Page 104)
What are the rights of someone in an RTF when it comes to education? Will they help residents prepare for postsecondary education? What if a resident graduates while in RTF, may they continue their education? Find out in this section.

This document in whole needs our voice. Check out the whole thing or specific sections and do not be afraid to comment on it! You can find the proposed documents at http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-43/2002a.html and send comments to ra-rtfcomment@state.pa.us
If you need help accessing or comment the documents feel free to contact me or any leader of the Youth Outreach Union. My contact information is as follows: (717) 829-3981 or aknapp@drnpa.org Thanks, Alex C. Knapp.