OAR 416-430-0010: Reason for Descriptors

(1) The purpose of the descriptor is to alert staff to unique situations that can affect the following areas of case management and program planning: (a) Safety, security, and order of facilities and communities. Awareness of unique situations ensure that staff fully consider placement options (both in the facility living unit, and in the community), ensuring that safety, security, and order of facilities and communities are maintained; (b) Youth in custody treatment opportunities. Collection of accurate and consistent information will prompt appropriate assessment to identify unique treatment needs where they exist. Such information notifies staff to link youth in custody with available programming and spurs the development of new programs to meet youth in custody needs; (c) Transition planning for youth in custody: The case descriptor will cue staff to consider specific community services available to support the unique needs of the youth in custody; (d) Effective networking with stakeholders: The case descriptor will ensure that pertinent and accurate information is passed along to stakeholders when youth in custody transition in and out of OYA system, and in response to requests for information from stakeholders; and (e) Agency planning. Accurate definition of populations served by OYA is necessary to present statistical reports in support of current and future programming. (2) In its policy, OYA will identify and define each case descriptor that staff may use for this purpose.