Governance, Youth Rights, and Management Accountabilty

Access to Counsel for Youth in Juvenile Justice Placement
All youth placed in a Close to Home program have the right to counsel and access to their counsel or authorized legal representatives. Provider agency staff shall facilitate a youth's access to counsel or any other authorized legal representative including, but not limited to, telephone communications, uncensored correspondence by mail, and visits. Download the policy

Visiting Youth in Juvenile Justice Placement Facilities
This policy requires Close to Home provider agencies to arrange and facilitate agency visits between youth and parents/guardians, siblings, half-siblings, children, extended family or other discharge resources, and other persons of significance to the youth as long as such visits are not prohibited or restricted by court order and do not compromise the safety of youth, staff, visitors or security of the facility. Download the policy

Revocations
Any youth who has been placed in a Close to Home facility may be conditionally released from residential placement on aftercare status before the expiration of the youth’s dispositional placement order. This policy provides guidelines and procedures for staff to follow when ACS seeks to revoke the release of a Close to Home youth who is on aftercare status. Download the policy

Access to Religious Services and Practice for Youth in Residential Placement
Subject to limitation only as necessary to maintain facility safety, security, and order, this policy requires Close to Home provider agencies to facilitate a youth's access to religious services and clergy and to the voluntary practice of religion. Close to Home provider agencies are prohibited from compelling any form of religious practice and from discriminating against a youth based on the youth’s decision to participate in, or not to participate in, any religious practice. Download the policy

Required Log Books and Paper Files for Juvenile Justice Placement Facilities
Close to Home residential placement providers are required to maintain legible and accurate log books and paper files for each facility they operate. This policy describes the types of log books and paper files required, the information providers are responsible for recording, and the length of time providers must store log books and paper files. The primary objective of this policy is to standardize practice and enforce uniformity. Download the policy

Prevention, Detection, and Response to Sexual Misconduct in Limited Secure Juvenile Justice Placement (PREA)
Employees of the Administration for Children's Services (ACS), Limited Secure Placement (LSP) provider staff, professionals, volunteers, interns, contractors, staff of city partner agencies, and youth may not engage in sexual abuse or sexual harassment of youth in the care and custody of ACS. Individuals covered by this policy must report any such instances and engage in appropriate follow-up with respect to allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment of youth, employ supervision and search practices that minimize the possibility of harm to youth in their care, and educate youth and staff about their rights and responsibilities under this policy. Download the policy

Personal Property of Youth in Juvenile Justice Placement
This policy requires that each youth’s personal property such as clothing, valuables, and money shall be appropriately secured while in Close to Home residential placement. The primary objective of this policy is to guide provider agencies on the process to inventory, store, release, and dispose (where applicable) of the personal property of youth who have been placed in a Close to Home facility. Download the policy

The Close to Home Quality Assurance Standards