Reference Document

CR-Rights-of-Individuals

Refuge House, Inc.
Last updated: July 24, 2026 · Source: legacy-carryforward/CR-Rights-of-Individuals.md

Rights of Individuals (Children's & Client Rights)

LEGACY CARRY-FORWARD. Migrated verbatim from the pre-T3C (COA-era) SharePoint corpus for completeness and traceability. It predates the T3C alignment and has not yet been reconciled to the current model. Its operative status is pending review — this is not an assertion that it is either currently in force or superseded. Original code: COA-CR. Source: SharePoint Policy - RH Rights of Individuals (COA CR).pdf.

Source is a scanned PDF; content below was recovered via OCR and may contain minor artifacts.

Content (verbatim)

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Policy Name RH Rights of Individuals

Approved On _ [ite diem eles

Revision Cross Ref #

Note

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"6/04 old version, 8/05 old version, 7/06 old version, 4/20/07, 5/26/07, 2/25/08,

8/5/08, 1/22/09, 8/29/09, 1/1/10, 3/23/10, 8/1/11, 1/16/12

All Information was ta Manual in order to simplify COA Compliance. | tess

POLICY

Refuge House make diligent efforts to protect the legal and ethical rights of our service-recipients, as well as any individual that is involved in providing services to our foster/adoptive children, which includes foster/adoptive parents and personnel. The first step in protecting the rights of individuals is to identify those rights and to. ensure each individual is aware of their rights. When dealing with foster/adoptive children, who come to our organization under the guardianship of the State, this involves ensuring that the child’s guardian has received sufficient information regarding Refuge House, relevant policies and procedures, and our Mission to make an informed decision about using our organization.

When providing care and services, our responsibility to protect our the rights of individuals in our organization is ongoing, and involves ensuring that each person receives fair and equitable treatment from each of our service providers, that each service provider is also aware of the rights of each individual, that a child’s guardian has the right to refuse services, and that Refuge House provides a formal Grievance Procedure in an attempt to remedy any violation of the rights of an individual.

Refuge House protects the rights to privacy and confidentiality of protected information of all individuals (foster/adoptive children, foster/adoptive parents and residents and personnel) by protecting confidential information and ensuring appropriate releases are obtained and only authorized information is provided to authorized individuals. Refuge House ensures that policies, procedures and practices comply with guidelines set forth in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC Chapter 749), DFPS requirements, Texas contract requirements, HIPAA guidelines and any legal obligations

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set forth the by the court of jurisdiction for each foster/adoptive child/young adult placed in care.

APPROVAL Board of Directors PROCEDURE For All Departments within the Organization Responsibility Step Rights of Foster/Adoptive Children and Youth

Placement Worker

At placement or within seven days of admissions, every child age three or above will be provided an age and developmentally appropriate orientation. The orientation will include: the child rights, an explanation of behavioral interventions and discipline; religious programs and practices; educational program and expectations; program expectations and rules; ability to participate in trips away from placement home; and the grievance procedure.

For a child functioning above toddler age and below school age — the orientation will include as many of the items listed as is age appropriate. Documentation of the child’s participation in the orientation process will be included on Orientation and Child Rights form and included in the child’s records. Justification for any omissions will also be documented on the form and kept in the record. Young Adults are also given an orientation and young adults rights form that is reviewed, understood and signed at the time of placement.

Refuge House supports the rights listed in the CPS Rights of Children and Youth in care and will cooperate with CPS to ensure all children have been give a written copy of these at the time of placement and at subsequent placements. Refuge House will review the CPS Child Rights and Youth in Foster Care with both the child and Foster/Adoptive Parent, as well as maintain a signed copy of these forms in the child’s file. Refuge House will not deny or restrict through action or policy, any of the rights listed in the CPS Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care.

Refuge House will provide services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing that ensure effective communication for children in care. In the case that a deaf or hard-of-hearing child/young adult is placed in Refuge House care, the agency will contact a Deafness Resource Specialist from the Department for Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) for assistance in determining how best to ensure effective communication is being achieved between a child/ young adult and foster/adoptive parent and/or agency employee.

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http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/providers/specialists.asp

Refuge House acknowledges the right of each individual to adequate and appropriate protections regarding confidential and private information. To that end, Refuge House ensures that private or confidential information, including protected health information (PHI), is secured from unauthorized access and distribution. Refuge House requires written authorization, unless required by legal or ethical considerations, prior to providing confidential or private information.

Availability of Rights Information

Home Developer

In addition to signing a statement of client rights at placement, or within 7 days of placement, a written summary of Child and Youth Rights is provided to each foster/adoptive home and should be displayed in a location that is accessible to foster/adoptive children/youth in care.

Identification of Rights

Quality Development, Program Director

Refuge House developed both Child Rights and Young Adult Rights to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met. Sources that provide guidance and requirements for development of Child and Young Adult rights are: DFPS (TAC Chapter 749), Contract, Council on Accreditation, CPS Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care. The detailing of a child’s rights contain the following elements, ata minimum:

  1. Adescription of each child’s or young adult’s rights (which may vary depending on the child’s age and developmental level and legal status)

  2. Rights and responsibilities of Refuge House and the foster/adoptive parent(s) to the child/young adult, including objecting to elements of the service plan or medication plan, availability and timeframes when applicable.

  3. Responsibility of the guardian and foster/adoptive child to provide accurate and relevant information as a basis for receiving services and participating in service decisions.

  4. Rules, expectations and other factors that influence the child/young adult(s) participation in aspects of their care, including those that may result in negative consequences.

  5. Aclear explanation of the remedies available to the child and the formal mechanisms for lodging a complaint, grievance or appeal, including information regarding how to file a complaint with a public authority or regulating body, when appropriate.

Conservator Notification and Information

Intake

| Prior to placement, Refuge House provides foster/adoptive child’s

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guardian with basic information about the Refuge House program, relevant policies and procedures, as well as information regarding the guardian/conservator’s rights in placing a child with Refuge House. The Conservator Information sheet also includes the right/responsibility of the guardian/conservator to participate in the service planning process; request a review of or revision to the care, treatment or service plan; object to elements of the service plan; and includes the right to refuse medication, unless mandated by law or court order, and the consequences of refusing any treatment or medication.

No

n-discrimination and Cultural Sensitivity

All personnel

Refuge House must provide services to clients in a manner that is culturally sensitive, including materials presented to and used by clients. Refuge House programs and services should be continually monitored to ensure that:

  1. Foster/adoptive children receive services in a non- discriminatory manner regardless of a child’s race or ethnicity, gender or gender identification, religious beliefs, social or economic background.

  2. Program rules and expectations are consistently enforced according to each individual’s understanding and abilities.

  3. Each foster/adoptive child must have the freedom to hold his/her own religious and/or spiritual beliefs as defined on the Child Rights document.

Meeting Communication Needs

Intake, Case Manager

Refuge House ensures that individual communication needs of foster/adoptive children are accommodated and proactively reach out to ensure that all individuals can use services and, to the fullest degree possible, participate in planning by:

  1. Providing basic information to the foster/adoptive child in a language he/she understands in the major language-groups served by Refuge House. The following documents are translated into Spanish:

a. Basic Program Information

b. Child Rights and Young Adult Rights, including Grievance Information

c. Emergency Contacts and Information

d. Training Materials used by Foster/Adoptive children/youth, when applicable.

  1. Making every reasonable effort to place foster/adoptive children in a home where their language and communication needs are met by the foster/adoptive

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parent(s), including language and hearing impaired needs.

  1. Ensuring that bilingual personnel are available to provide services to a Spanish-speaking foster/adoptive child.

  2. Inthe event that a child speaks a language other than English or Spanish, Refuge House will make every reasonable accommodation to identify translators/interpreters and arrange for appropriate communication services.

  3. Inthe case that a deaf or hard-of-hearing child is placed in Refuge House care, the agency will contact a Deafness Resource Specialist from the Department for Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) for assistance in determining how best to ensure effective communication is being achieved between a child and foster/adoptive parent and/or agency employee.

  4. Making case-by-case evaluations of each child’s age and developmental level, social and emotional development, and ensuring that all interactions with the child, both written and oral, are approached with the objective of obtaining the highest level of comprehension possible.

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Rights in Service Planning

Intake, Case Manager At intake, the initial 72-hour service plan ensures that each child/young adult’s most basic needs are met based upon limited information known to the Intake Department, including Age, Gender, Race/Ethnicity, Language, County of Removal, and any other information available to the Intake Department. The initial service plan is provided to the Guardian/DFPS, the foster/adoptive parent(s) and the child/young adult (as applicable) and includes:

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  1. Immediate Service Needs (Case Management Services, Therapeutic Support Services, Training for Foster Parents, Supervision, School Enrollment, Development/Educational Assessment}

Family Contact

Maintaining Contact with the Child’s Guardian

Medical and Dental Needs, including Current Medications Known Treatment Issues, including Behavioral Issues and Concerns

  1. Emotional and Developmental

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Within 30 days of placement, the Refuge House Case Manager assigned to the foster/adoptive child coordinates with the Treatment team to develop the 30-day Individual Service Plan. The following individuals are considered service plan participants:

  1. Foster/Adoptive Child

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Foster/Adoptive Parent

Refuge House Case Manager

DFPS Case Worker (Conservator/Guardian)

Refuge House Treatment Director

Professional Service Provider as applicable (therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.)

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Individual Service Plans are reviewed and updated quarterly (3 Month) for each child. All service plan participants are invited to participate in a developmental meeting scheduled within 10 days prior to the implementation date of each Individual Service Plan. Service plan participants are encouraged to provide feedback and recommendations in the development of service plan elements.

Refuge House Case Manager and Treatment Director ensure that each service plan is tailored and adapted to the individual needs of the foster/adoptive child and includes accommodations, as appropriate, for the visual, auditory, linguistic and motor abilities of the foster/adoptive child.

Rights of Foster/Adoptive Families, Verified Substitute Care-Providers and Candidates

Home Developer

Prior to verification, each Foster/Adoptive Family, Verified Substitute Caregiver receives an agreement specifically tailored to their role within the organization. This document outlines rights, responsibilities and expectations. Each individual must sign this agreement prior to providing care to foster/adoptive children. Foster/adoptive parents must also sign a DFPS document titled

Availability of Rights Information

Home Developer

In addition to signing a statement of rights at prior to verification, Refuge House ensures that a copy of these rights is posted at the office, as well as ensuring these rights are available to each foster/adoptive home in their printed materials.

Identification of Rights

Refuge House develops foster/adoptive parent rights to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met. These rights are provided to individuals during the verification process through the Statement of Foster Parent and Child-Placing Agency Rights and Responsibilities, as well as in the Foster Parent Agreement, and Substitute Care-Provider/Foster Home Staff agreement. Sources that provide additional guidance and requirements for development of Foster/Adoptive Parent rights are: DFPS (TAC Chapter 749), Contract, Council on Accreditation. The detailing of child and young adult rights contain the following elements, at a minimum:

  1. A description of each individual’s rights (which may vary depending on the individual’s role within Refuge House)

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  1. Rights and responsibilities of Refuge House and the individual

  2. Responsibility of the individual to provide accurate and relevant information.

  3. Rules, expectations, and other factors, including those that may result in negative consequences.

  4. Aclear explanation of the remedies available to the individual and the formal mechanisms for lodging a complaint, grievance or appeal, including information regarding how to file a complaint with a public authority or regulating body, when appropriate.

Rights of Employees

Human Resources Upon employment, each employee receives an Employee Bill of

Rights. This document outlines rights, responsibilities, and general expectations. Each individual must sign this agreement prior to continuing employment.

Availability of Rights Information

Operations In addition to signing a statement of rights at prior to verification,

Refuge House ensures that a copy of these rights is posted at the office, as well as ensuring these rights are available to each foster/adoptive home in their printed materials.

Identification of Rights

Human Resources Refuge House develops employee rights to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met. Sources that provide guidance and requirements for development of employee: OSHA, Department of Labor, Texas Administrative Code, COA. The detailing of employee rights contains the following elements, at a minimum:

  1. A description of each individual's rights (which may vary depending on the individual's role within Refuge House)

  2. Rights and responsibilities of Refuge House and the individual

  3. Responsibility of the individual to provide accurate and relevant information.

  4. Rules, expectations, and other factors, including those that may result in negative consequences.

A clear explanation of the remedies available to the individual and the formal mechanisms for lodging a complaint, grievance or appeal, including information regarding how to file a complaint with a public authority or regulating body, when appropriate.

REFERENCES Information was taken from the following sources: ** RH Policy and Procedure Manual “* RH Caregiver Manual

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“* RH Case Manager Handbook

DEFINITIONS RH — Refuge House The Agency — Refuge House

FORMS ATTACHMENTS FP Agreement DFPS Placement Information and Acknowledgement Child & Youth Orientation & Rights

CEO APPROVAL Michele L. Gorman Ph.D.

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© 2026 Refuge House, Inc. · This is a controlled document. Always refer to the current version.