45362. Physically Assaultive/Aggressive Youth

Approval:            Connie Lambert-Eckel, Acting Assistant Secretary

Original Date:    April 30, 2010

Revised Date:    October 19, 2017

Policy Review:   October 2, 2021

Purpose 

To guide Children’s Administration (CA) caseworkers in properly identifying Physically Assaultive/Aggressive Youth (PAAY) and providing the needed supervision and services to meet their needs.

Scope

This policy applies to DCFS staff.

Laws

RCW 74.13.280 Client Information

Policy

  1. When identifying and determining a youth as PAAY as defined by RCW 74.13.280, a youth must exhibit one or more of the following behaviors that are developmentally inappropriate and harmful to the child or others:
    1. Observed assaultive behavior;
    2. Reported and documented history of the child willfully assaulting or inflicting bodily harm; or
    3. Attempting to assault or inflict bodily harm on other children or adults when the child has the apparent ability to carry out the attempted assaults, including threats to use a weapon.
  2. Regions must establish a PAAY committee to determine PAAY identification and provide quality assurance oversight.
  3. All PAAY Determination Referrals DSHS 15-400 and Youth Supervision Plans DSHS 15-352 must be initially reviewed and approved by Regional PAAY Committee.
  4. All youth identified as PAAY must have a signed Youth Supervision Plan DSHS 15-352 prior to placement, but no later than 72 hours and the plan must be documented in FamLink within seven calendar days.
  5. All youth identified as PAAY must be provided needed services.
  6. If a youth has complex behavioral health needs, the caseworker must refer them for a Wraparound Intensive Services (WISe) screen per the 4542. WISe policy.
  7. Youth identified as PAAY must only be placed with licensed caregivers who have completed the CA PAAY training.
  8. Youth identified as PAAY and placed with unlicensed caregivers, the caregiver must complete the CA PAAY training as soon as possible, but no later than 30 calendar days.
  9. Youth already placed and then identified as PAAY, the caregivers must complete the CA PAAY training as soon as possible, but no later than 30 calendar days.

Procedures

Caseworkers must:

  1. Complete a Youth Supervision Plan DSHS 15-352 in FamLink on all youth identified as PAAY with the caregiver and Division of Licensed Resources (DLR) licensor, if available, within seven calendar days. Identify with the caregiver as part of the supervision and plan any training, support or consultation they need.
  2. Submit all Youth Supervision Plans DSHS 15-352 for review and signature to the youth's caregiver and:
    1. Provide a copy of the signed plan to the caregiver.
    2. Obtain the original copy in the case file and upload it into FamLink.
    3. Notify the DLR licensor via email that the supervision plan has been completed and signed.
  3. Complete the PAAY Determination Referral DSHS 15-400 form and submit with the completed Youth Supervision Plan DSHS 15-352 to the regional PAAY committee when identifying or removing youth as PAAY.
  4. Coordinate services with the contracted provider of services and the caregiver.
  5. Document in FamLink by checking or un-checking the PAAY Warning Indicator on the Person Management Page within seven calendar days for youth identified as PAAY.
  6. Review each youth’s supervision plan at least every six months with caregiver and supervisor and update as needed.
  7. Prior to placement, verify a prospective licensed caregiver has completed the CA PAAY training. If the licensed caregiver has not completed the training:
    1. Do not place the youth identified as SAY with the caregiver until training is completed and verified.
    2. Provide the caregiver with information on where and how to access the training.
    3. Discuss and document in FamLink the date the caregiver agrees to complete the training.
  8. Verify an unlicensed caregiver has completed the CA PAAY training prior to placement. If the unlicensed caregiver has not completed the training:
    1. Provide them with information on where and how to access the training.
    2. Discuss and document in the electronic case file the date unlicensed caregiver agrees to complete the training. This date must be as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after placement.
  9. For youth who are identified as PAAY after they are placed in out-of-home care verify that their licensed or unlicensed caregiver has completed the CA PAAY training. If the caregivers have not completed the training:
    1. Provide them with information on where and how to access the training.
    2. Discuss and document in FamLink the date caregiver agrees to complete the training. This date must be as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days of the identification.

Forms and Tools

  • Youth Supervision Plan DSHS 15-352 (located on the CA intranet)
  • PAAY Determination Referral DSHS 15-400 (located on the CA intranet)
  • FamLink Document upload instructions (located on the CA intranet)

Resources