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Committee backs mental‑health rule letting parents reside with children in some residential programs
Summary
The Department of Mental Health updated life‑safety and program rules and added an option that would allow parents or guardians to reside with their minor children in certain residential treatment settings; the department and members discussed waiver mechanisms, space, and volunteer/employee registry prohibitions.
The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services asked the committee to recommend updates to life‑safety and minimum program requirements and to authorize an option for parents or guardians to reside with minor children in some residential treatment settings. Kristen Belloff, the department presenter, said the rule aligns outdated language with current safety standards and permits facilities to request waivers for multiple occupancy when appropriate.
Dan Giannotti, the department's director of licensure, clarified that the policy is intended for parents or guardians residing with minors and that facilities seeking exceptions should submit a waiver so the department can verify compliance. On employee and volunteer eligibility, Giannotti said the rule’s changes capture multiple registries and that “if you're on those registries, you cannot work or volunteer in these settings whatsoever.” After questions about who would absorb costs when children stay with a parent and about space and square‑footage calculations, the committee voted to recommend the rule positively.
