Behavior and Outing Rules
Show respect for everyone with whom you come in contact, by your actions and your words. This includes Staff, Case Workers, Visitors, members of our home as well as those outside of it.
Respect your home - e.g., do notthrow anything at the doors or walls; no standing, walking or running on furniture or chairs; clean up after yourself.
• No obscene language, drugs, Vapes, alcohol, tobacco, or weapons. (See your House Manager if you need to take/use prescription medication)
• Public displays of affection. This includes “hanging on” someone, excessive hugging, handholding, kissing, sharing a seat, or other obviously “romantic” behavior.
• For the safety and well-being of all, every outing or event has physical boundaries. Stay within those boundaries. At no time will the Staff of this home tolerate language or behavior that is disrespectful or rude to others or to those in authority over the group. This includes staff, chaperones, parents, and those involved in the operation of those event we are attending.
Failure to comply with these rules will resort in the following diciplinary actions:
Verbal warning
Disiplinary discussion and written warning
Loss of Privileges
Note: House purchased gifts, video games, cell phones etc. will be relinquished upon AWOL, violation of probation or disruption
Visitation, Mail and Telephone
Each youth will be given reasonable privacy during a visit unless their service plan requires supervised visitation.
The visitation hours for the home are 7 days a week between the hours of 8AM to 8PM in order to meet the needs of the children and their family members.
Each child will be given the opportunity as needed to communicate with their Social Worker, Attorney, Court Appointed Advocate, Guardian or Clergy. Administration may enforce a schedule and rules for communication to prohibit undue interference with the program.
This Home will not deny, monitor, or restrict communications between a
child and the child's parent, guardian, or friends except as prescribed:
a. By court order;
b. In the child's service plan, which shall contain specific treatment
reasons for the restriction which shall be time limited
This home may require a child to open mail in the presence of staff in
order to inspect the mail for contraband
If monitoring a communication as allowed the licensee shall tell the parties to the communication aboutthe monitoring.
Leaving the Home on a visit or outing
The childs location, duration of activity and anticiapted and actual time of return shall be recorded
The name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for child while the child is absent from the home will be recorded.
If the child fails to return DCS, Case Manager and Police will be notified
Grievance Proceedure
Youth should notify House Manager, David Parker in person or at (714) 319-0547 using the house phone. Grievance forms are available upon request from any staff member in the home. Online Grievance forms (fillable) will also be available online at www.bettertogethermesa.com.
Statement of Youth Rights (Client Rights)
Better Together Mesa's policies and procedures state that each youth shall be afforded thefollowing basic rights.
1.The right to treatment and services under conditions that support the youth’s personal
liberty and restrict such liberty only as necessary to comply with treatment needs.
2. The right to and individualized treatment plan developed promptly after admission;
treatment based on the plan; periodic review and revision of the plan, and the right to beprovided an explanation of all aspects of one’s own condition and treatment.
3. The right to refuse treatment as outlined in A.R.S. 36-512
4. The right not to be required to participate in experimentation without the youth’s
informed, voluntary, written consent. The right to appropriate protection associated withsuch participation; and the right and opportunity to revoke consent.
5. The right to freedom from restraint or seclusion. Restraint and seclusion may only beused in situations where there is eminent danger that the youth will injure himself orothers and all other less restrictive methods of control have been exhausted.
6. The right to humane treatment environment that affords reasonable protection from harm,appropriate privacy, and freedom from verbal or physical abuse.
7. The right to confidentiality of records.
8. The right to access, upon request, to his own youth records in accordance with state law.
9. The right to be informed, in appropriate language and terms, of their rights.
10. The right to legal counsel and all other requirements of due process.
11. The right to not be subjected to remarks which ridicule them or other youth.
12. The right to not be exploited or required to make public statements acknowledging gratitude to the program or perform at public gatherings.
13. The right to assert grievances with respect to infringement of these rights, including the right to have such grievances considered in a fair, timely and impartial procedure.
14. The right of access to a qualified advocate in order to understand exercise and protect his rights.
15. The right to be informed in advance of charges for services.
16. The right to all available services without discrimination because of race, creed, color, sex, age, handicap, national origin or marital status and the right to referral as appropriate to other providers of behavioral health services.
17. The right to exercise your civil rights, unless you have been adjudicated incompetent or there has been specific finding that you are unable is unable to exercise the specific right or category of rights.
18. The right to be free from receiving unnecessary or excessive medication. Medication shall not be used as punishment or in quantities that interfere with the youth’s treatment program.
19. The right to a smoke free environment as stated in the Policy and Procedure manual.
SUPPLEMENTAL YOUTH RIGHTS
Adjacent to the youth phone, the following numbers have been made available: AZ DCS, ACYF,
and Child Protective Services.
1. Each youth shall be provided uncensored and unimpeded visits with family members or
other visitor when such visits are not contraindicated by youths TX plan.
2. All restriction of communication or visits shall be determined with the youth, guardian,
and family, and be documented in the youth’s records.
3. Telephone calls shall be made reasonably accessible to all youth’s. Telephone use hours shall be posted in each home.
4. No pictures of youth’s may be taken without obtaining permission and identifying theintended use. Permission must be in writing.
5. Youths are permitted to wear their own clothes. Agency shall assure that youths have appropriate clothing; proper fit, climate appropriate and age appropriate.
6. All homes are licensed for ages 12 to 17 and have a mixed population. Any youth turning18 have the option to sign a voluntary stay form up to the age of 21.
7. Each youth will share in chore responsibilities but will not be assessed an over
indulgence in housekeeping chores.
8. Each youth upon entering the program will be read the Youth’s rights and sign that they have read and understand them. A copy of this verification will be maintained on file.