Section 411.150  Authorization for Continued Placement

a)         The Director or designee may issue one or more written authorizations for continued placement in secure care on behalf of a child or youth who has resided in secure care for more than 60 days and who continues to require a secure care placement. Each such authorization shall be issued in increments not to exceed 30 days.

b)         Prior to authorizing continued placement, the Department shall obtain a clinical evaluation of the child or youth by an independent examiner to determine whether:

1)         The child or youth meets the requirements established by the Department for admission to a secure child care facility;

2)         The child's or youth's response to treatment has not resulted in clinical stabilization and/or a reduction of symptoms associated with the child's or youth's presenting problems sufficient to safely move the child or youth to a non-secure placement;

3)         The child or youth continues to present a serious risk of bodily harm to self and/or others;

4)         The child or youth continues to have a mental illness or emotional disturbance consistent with DSM-IV diagnostic criteria; and

5)         All less restrictive placements and treatment alternatives have been ruled out as inappropriate to meet the child's or youth's clinical and safety needs.

c)         Continued placement in a secure child care facility is limited to children and youth who are less than 18 years of age, who are subject to placement under the Children and Family Services Act and who are not subject to placement in a correctional facility operated pursuant to Section 3-15-2 of the Unified Code of Corrections [730 ILCS 5/3-15-2].

d)         The Department shall not authorize continued placement of a child or youth in a secure child care facility if a court review of the placement is not conducted within 60 days after initial placement, as required by Section 2-27.1 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 [705 ILCS 405/2-27.1].