(1) The overall purpose of this chapter is to increase accountability and competency for programs that provide domestic violence intervention treatment as well as provide minimum standards and a pathway to achieve the following:

(a) To responsibly and as accurately as possible with the information relied upon, assess the risks, needs and responsivity for perpetrators of intimate partner violence who are seeking assessment and treatment;

(b) To increase the safety of the victim, current partner, children, and other children in the care or residence of perpetrators of intimate partner violence who are enrolled in intervention treatment; and

(c) To hold perpetrators of intimate partner violence accountable in meeting their program requirements and achieving core competencies, including documentation of their cognitive and behavioral changes and personal accountability as outlined in WAC 388-60A-0430, through intervention treatment using evidence-based and promising practices.

(2) The rules in chapter 388-60A WAC establish the following standards for programs that provide domestic violence assessments or any level of intervention treatment to perpetrators of intimate partner violence and include:

(a) Minimum certification requirements for programs that provide services to participants of domestic violence intervention treatment;

(b) Program administrative requirements;

(c) Program staff requirements;

(d) Quality management requirements;

(e) Facility requirements;

(f) Program policies and procedures;

(g) Program treatment record requirements;

(h) Program assessment and treatment requirements; and

(i) A grievance system that includes a grievance process, an appeal process, and access to administrative hearings.

(3) Unless otherwise provided by law, these standards apply to any program that:

(a) Provides or advertises that it provides domestic violence perpetrator assessments or evaluations for intimate partners;

(b) Provides or advertises that it provides domestic violence intervention or perpetrator treatment for intimate partners; or

(c) Defines its services as meeting court orders that require assessment, evaluation, or enrollment in, or completion of, domestic violence perpetrator treatment or domestic violence intervention treatment for intimate partners.

(4) These programs provide assessments, recommendations, or treatment to perpetrators of intimate partner violence, including participants who are self-referred or those who are court-ordered to be assessed or attend treatment.

(5) A program may administer other service programs in addition to domestic violence intervention treatment services; however, the domestic violence intervention treatment program for intimate partners must be considered a separate and distinct program from all other services the agency provides.

(6) Participants of the domestic violence intervention treatment program for intimate partners must not attend the same groups or sessions as participants of other programs or services as part of their domestic violence intervention treatment.

(7) The department requires new applicants who are in the process of applying to DSHS to provide domestic violence intervention assessments or any level of treatment to comply with the requirements in this chapter as of the day it is adopted. 

(8) All programs affected by this rule that were certified under the chapter 388-60 WAC and have a current certification are to fully comply and provide written verification to the department with the requirements in this chapter no later than six months following the adoption of this chapter. 

(9) All programs that have a current certification under the chapter 388-60 WAC and are in compliance with the requirements of chapter 388-60A WAC will be issued a new certification under chapter 388-60A WAC and will be certified to provide assessments and levels one, two, and three treatments.

(10) If a program certified under the previous chapter 388-60 WAC would like to add level four treatment or remove any service, they must make a written request to the department and await a determination by the department before providing any level four treatment or removing any service.

(11) Written requests can be emailed to CADVProgram@dshs.wa.gov or mailed to:

Department of social

and health services

Domestic violence intervention

treatment program manager

P.O. Box 47510

Olympia, WA 98504

(12) All programs that were certified under the chapter 388-60 WAC and have a current certification may complete treatment for current participants under the rules of chapter 388-60 WAC until their discharge from treatment.

(13) New participants assessed by or participating in the program as of the adoption of this chapter 388-60A WAC must comply with the standards in this chapter.