10A NCAC 70K .0202       SERVICES

(a)  A maternity home shall have a written statement of purpose and objectives, services offered, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and procedures for implementing all services. This information shall be available to persons or agencies making inquiries about the maternity home.

(b)  Social Services. The maternity home shall provide admission, residential, and discharge services to applicants, residents in care, and their families or legal custodians, as follows:

(1)           Admission services shall include an assessment of: the individual's need for maternity home care; services for the applicant's individual needs; and a determination whether the maternity home's program of care and services can meet the applicant's needs.

(2)           When an applicant who lives out of state is being considered for admission and the applicant is under 18 years old, the provisions of the North Carolina interstate placement laws (G.S. 7B-3800 et. seq.) shall be met.

(3)           Staff shall be assigned the responsibility for making admission decisions.

(4)           Applicants or legal custodians shall complete a written application before or upon admission. Written agreements shall be made concerning release of information, medical care, and fees for care and services.

(5)           An applicant accepted for care shall be referred to and have a working agreement with a licensed child-placing agency or county department of social services of the applicant's choice for planning and decision making in relation to her baby. No maternity home staff member shall assume any responsibility for placement of children for adoption.

(6)           Residential services throughout the period of care shall include counseling for each resident and her family.

(7)           Each resident shall have the opportunity to talk privately with staff, family members, friends, and social workers from child-placing agencies or county departments of social services and to express grievances regarding the maternity home.

(8)           Each resident shall have assistance as requested in making the best use of her time in the maternity home, adjusting to the living situation, accessing all services needed, resolving personal and family problems, and planning for discharge.

(9)           Discharge services for residents shall include planning for living arrangements, employment, or education. For those residents planning to keep their babies, discharge services shall include preparation for parenthood and support services for single parents.

(c)  Psychological and Psychiatric Services. Arrangements shall be made available for a resident to have the services of a psychologist or a psychiatrist, as well as for consultation for the staff providing care and services to the resident. Maternity homes shall request documentation regarding who has the authority to consent to psychological and psychiatric services received by the resident. Persons or entities with authority to consent may include the resident's parent, legal guardian or custodian, or county department of social services with legal custody of the resident in accordance with G.S. 7B-505.1.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 7B-505.1; 131D‑10.10; 143B‑153;

Eff. February 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. October 1, 2008;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. April 5, 2016;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2017.