Group treatment—What standards must programs follow regarding the provision of group treatment?
(1) Each treatment program certified for any level of treatment must adhere to the following standards regarding group treatment:
(a) Participants must attend group sessions on a weekly basis;
(b) The group sessions must be single gender;
(c) Participants must be given the choice to attend the group they feel most comfortable in when gender identity is a factor;
(d) The group size is limited to a maximum of twelve participants, and a minimum of two participants;
(e) On a short-term basis the program may accept a participant into their domestic violence intervention treatment program even if the program lacks sufficient participants to constitute a group;
(f) Group sessions with four to twelve participants in attendance must be at least ninety minutes in length;
(g) Group sessions with three or fewer participants in attendance must be at least sixty minutes in length;
(h) Group sessions must be closed to all persons other than participants, group facilitators, and others specifically invited by the group facilitators including, but are not limited to:
(i) Professionals in related fields;
(ii) A research scholar or state of Washington evaluator;
(iii) Advocates from victim service agencies;
(iv) Persons offering interpretation services for the deaf and/or hearing impaired or language translation or interpretation; and
(v) Interns, trainees, or others who bring specific information applicable to the group; and
(i) Any person attending the group as specified under this section must sign a confidentiality agreement of which the program must keep a record.
[WSR 19-15-044, recodified as § 388-60B-0315, filed 7/11/19, effective 7/28/19. WSR 18-14-078, recodified as § 110-60A-0315, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW
26.50.150. WSR 18-12-034, § 388-60A-0315, filed 5/29/18, effective 6/29/18.]