New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 14 - DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HYGIENE
Appendices
Appendix 10

I. The following are additional definitions formulated for purposes of these regulations:

Rehabilitation testing and evaluation include tests, examinations and evaluative or diagnostic statements made by a psychiatrist, physician, psychologist, social worker, rehabilitation specialist, educational specialist, occupational therapist or other professional person in a related discipline that appraise a client's capacity to acquire occupational skills and acceptable patterns of social and employment behavior and that assess the client's capacity for productivity in a work, social, or educational situation, real or simulated.

Therapeutic recreation is a rehabilitative program consisting of social and recreational activities designed to help the mentally disabled client move forward in his personal adjustment and in his relationship with others.

A social remotivation program is that element of a rehabilitation program that attempts to stimulate a mentally disabled client to the point where he becomes willing to relate to other people in activities that will help him to move toward resumption of or adjustment to community life.

Occupational therapy is that aspect of a rehabilitation program that emphasizes a plan for restoration of mental, emotional and physical ability individually designed for each mentally disabled client and carried out under the direction or supervision of a physician with the intent of preparing such client for his return to the community.

Training for independent living is the kind of rehabilitation program that emphasizes activities designed to provide a mentally disabled client with practical experience in handling his day-to-day life in the community.

A job-tryout, on-the-job-training, or industrial therapy is a work experience within the rehabilitation agency or in conjunction with an outside industry or institution planned for the purpose of helping a client acquire work knowledge, develop skills, or of assessing his readiness for job placement.

Milieu therapy is the total environment of a program, including physical surroundings, equipment and staff attitudes that are integrated in such a way as to enhance the effectiveness of other therapies and activities and encourage the client's rehabilitation.

Personal adjustment training or work adjustment emphasizes the development of adjustment to work rather than the development of a particular skill. This may be achieved by long-term exposure to a real work situation stressing personal and social skills required to get along with others in a work setting, the development of work tolerance, appropriate work habits and emotional stability in responding to work pressures.

Long-term workshop employment is a program operated in a protected environment to provide employment for clients who are so severely incapacitated that they may not engage in competitive employment in the labor market for a prolonged period.

Job placement and to follow-up service is that aspect of a vocational rehabilitation program in which a client is placed in a job with subsequent determination as to whether he has been suitably placed in competitive employment. It also involves a decision as to whether the client needs further service and if so, what kind.

Domiciliary care (halfway houses, hostels, home care, family care, group living and the like) are temporary or permanent supervised living arrangements for mentally disabled clients.

Supportive services are designed to strengthen the abilities of mentally disabled clients to move ahead toward maximum independent functioning by working with their total environments including home and family, job and employer and the community as a whole.

II. The following professional disciplines must be licensed, certified or registered in the State of New York:

A psychiatrist must have a license to practice medicine in the State of New York and must have completed a three year psychiatric residency in an approved psychiatric hospital.

A physician or other specialist in the medical profession must have a license to practice medicine in the State of New York and one year of acceptable experience.

A psychologist must be certified in the State of New York as a psychologist or as a school psychologist. Certification is waived for psychologists employed by public agencies.

A social worker must be certified in the State of New York. A master's degree from an approved school of social world that includes too years of part-time supervised field work is required for certification. Certification is waived for social workers employed by public agencies.

A nurse must be registered with, the State of New York. To qualify for registration a nurse must have graduated from an accredited school of nursing that includes the proper academic training and supervised student nursing.

A physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist must be licensed by the State of New York.

A teacher in a rehabilitation program in an institution must hold a bachelor a degree from a recognized four-year college or university which includes satisfactory completion of the necessary hours in the subject of the teaching specialty or specialties.

Other specialists for whom licensure, certification or registration is not required by New York State must be eligible for membership in their national standard-setting organization.

III. Discharge policies shall be premised on specific considerations.

The client is considered to have a reasonably good adjustment to work and daily living and requires no further service.

The client requires another community service that can better serve his needs.

The client has reached the maximum allowable stay as determined by policy of the rehabilitation agency. Referrals to other resources should be made if further service is required.

The client is not ready at this time for vocational training.

The client shows gross lack of cooperation with the program rules and procedures of the rehabilitation agency.

IV. The following certifications or approvals are required, if applicable, in relation to premises.

Written approval by the local fire department that the premises are fire-safe.

Written approval by the local building department that the building or space in the building is in safe repair for the purposes of the program.

Written indication where required from the local zoning authority that the rehabilitation service is in the proper zone.

Certificate of occupancy from the building department stating that the premises may be used for a rehabilitation program unless the service is housed in a public building in which case this requirement is waived.

Written approvals as required from the health or sanitation departments if food is prepared on the premises.

V. The following are the qualifications for mental health aide that were developed by the Municipal Service Division of the New York State Civil Service Commission on June 19, 1967. Graduation from high school and either:

graduation from a recognized college or university, or four years of experience working under professional supervision with clients on assigned aspects of their social, health, education or rehabilitation problems in an agency or institution adhering to acceptable standards, or any equivalent combination of experience and training.