New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter 8 - CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES GENERAL PROVISIONS
Part 2 - PROTECTIVE SERVICES GENERAL POLICIES
Section 8.8.2.7 - DEFINITIONS

A. "Administrative hearing" in PSD, administrative hearings are used in the circumstances described herein at Paragraphs (1) through (3) of Subsection B of 8.8.2.13 NMAC.

B. "Administrative review" is an informal process, which may include an informal conference or may include only a record review. The administrative review does not create any substantive rights for the client.

C. "AFCARS" refers to the federally-required automated foster care and adoptions reporting system. States are required to submit AFCARS data semi-annually. This includes case level information on all children in PSD custody, children who are adopted under the auspices of PSD, and information on foster and adoptive parents.

D. "Child abuse and neglect check" is a review of the PSD family automated client tracking system, also known as FACTS, or another state's central abuse or neglect registry to determine if there have been any previous referrals on the family to this state's or any other state's child protective services division.

E. "Children's Code" refers to the New Mexico Children's Code, Section 32A-1-1, et. seq., NMSA 1978.

F. "Client" means a person who is receiving services from PSD.

G. "Communicable disease" means any infectious disease that is both potentially communicable through common social or sexual contact and poses a significant health risk if contracted.

H. "Criminal records check (CRC)" as discussed herein, means federal, state or local checks for criminal offenses conducted on PSD employees as well as volunteers and students working in a PSD office. The level of CRC depends on duties performed, as per 8.8.2.22 NMAC herein. Requirements for CRC in reference to foster or adoptive parents are outlined in "Licensing Requirements for Foster and Adoptive Homes," 8.26.4.10 NMAC.

I. "CYFD" refers to the children, youth and families department.

J. "FACTS" refers to the family automated client tracking system (FACTS), the official data management system for CYFD.

K. "NCANDS" refers to the national child abuse and neglect data system (NCANDS), a voluntary national data collection and analysis system created in response to the requirements of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.

L. "Need to know" is the standard by which individual(s) are identified as required to receive confidential information, based upon risk of transmission of a specific disease.

M. "NYTD" refers to the national youth in transition (NYTD) database, a national data collection and analysis system created in response to the requirements of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999.

N. "Policies" are those regulations that govern CYFD activities and have the force of law.

O. "Procedures" direct PSD staff in how to implement policies.

P. "Protective services division (PSD)" refers to the protective services division of the children, youth and families department, and is the state's designated child welfare agency.

Q. "Provider" refers to foster care and adoptive families.

R. "RMS" means random moment sample and is the process used by CYFD to collect information to support claims for reimbursement from the state and federal funding sources.

S. "SACWIS" means the statewide automated child welfare information systems (SACWIS), a comprehensive automated case management tool that supports foster care and adoptions assistance case management practice. FACTS is the state of New Mexico's SACWIS system.

T. "Secretary" means the secretary of CYFD.

U. "Stipend students" are students in an undergraduate or graduate social work program in New Mexico who have been selected to receive stipends to support their education in return for working for PSD for a specified period of time.

V. "Supervision" is the formal, professional relationship in which the supervisor has oversight responsibility of the work duties and work life of the designated supervisee. Supervision is to be provided under the three functions of the supervisory framework.

W. "Supervisor" is an individual within the agency that are identified as responsible for assigned employee's execution of job duties within the agency.

X. "Supervisee" is the employee assigned and reports directly to their designated supervisor.

Y. "Universal precautions" are the standardized protocols for the prevention of communicable disease.

Z. "Vendor" refers to individuals or businesses from which PSD purchases goods and services for the needs of our clients.