37.98.415    YOUTH/STAFF RATIOS

(1) A program shall maintain the following minimum staff ratios:

(a) Youth/staff ratio must be no more than 4:1 each day for a 15-hour period beginning at, or between, 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., (or beginning at, or between, some other reasonable morning half hour which is approximately 15 hours prior to the bedtime of the youth) , when youth are in care.

(b) Youth/staff ratio for residential outdoor services may not be more than 8:1 each night for a nine-hour period beginning no earlier than 15 hours from the time daytime staffing of 4:1 starts. Staff must be awake during the nine-hour period.

(2) A program must use the actual number of youth in care each day to compute the youth/staff ratio.

(3) The youth/staff ratio requirement for the expedition components of the program is contained in ARM 37.98.1805.

History: Sec. 50-5-220, MCA; IMP, Sec. 50-5-220, MCA; NEW, 2004 MAR p. 1960, Eff. 8/6/04.