Each program certified to provide assessments or any level of care must ensure that its treatment space is suitable for the purposes intended.

(1) For programs that offer any level of treatment:

(a) The group room must easily accommodate fourteen people, not counting space taken by staff desks, file cabinets or similar items; or

(b) If the program regularly and consistently holds groups smaller than twelve participants, the group room must be able to comfortably accommodate the size of the group and facilitator based on attendance records.

(2) The program must ensure that the facility space:

(a) Is not a personal residence;

(b) Is accessible to an individual with a disability, and if a program operates in a historic building or a building that was constructed before current ADA standards, the program must inform potential participants of barriers to accessibility and offer the participant a referral to programs that are ADA accessible when applicable;

(c) Has a reception area separate from treatment areas;

(d) Ensures confidentiality and anonymity for participants including:

(i) Having window coverings for reception, group, and assessment spaces; and

(ii) Having signage outside the building that does not indicate domestic violence treatment;

(e) Has adequate private space for personal consultation with an individual, staff charting, and therapeutic activities, as appropriate;

(f) Has secure and locked storage of active and closed confidential participant and victim records which are not accessible to participants or the public;

(g) Has separate, secure storage of poisonous external chemicals and caustic materials;

(h) Has evacuation routes with highlighted emergency exits posted in each room used by participants or staff;

(i) Has a restroom available to participants and staff during business hours; and

(j) Has sufficient ventilation and temperature control to facilitate assessments or groups comfortably.

(3) If the program operates in the same building or in very close proximity to a victim services program, the domestic violence intervention treatment program must conduct assessments and groups sessions at least three hours apart from any victim services.

(4) A different agreement in regards to proximity and day or time allowances or restrictions may supersede the requirements of the standard in WAC 388-60A-0120(3) when it is outlined by a signed memorandum of understanding between the treatment program and the victim services program. 

Exception: Domestic violence intervention treatment services being delivered off-site, such as in jails or prisons are not subject to the facility standards in this section.