New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 14 - DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HYGIENE
Chapter XIII - Office of Mental Health
Part 575 - Community Support Services For The Mentally Ill
Section 575.4 - Definitions

(a) Commissioner is the Commissioner of Mental Health.

(b) Community support services are those clinical, social, rehabilitative, related administrative and other mental health and support services which are provided within the community and which enhance community living skills while preventing the unnecessary hospitalization of the seriously and chronically mentally ill individual who is determined to be eligible for such services pursuant to section 575.6 of this Part.

(c) Community support services program is a comprehensive program of community support services established under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Mental Health, funded by the Office of Mental Health and administered through the local government plan. It is designed to provide core services and a case manager system as essential elements of an individual's service program for purposes of extending community tenure and improving the quality of life.

(d) Contract agency means a provider of services, other than a local governmental unit, which contracts with the Office of Mental Health to provide community support services.

(e) Core services means the ongoing management, coordination, and monitoring of the implementation of the community support services program within a defined geographical area as determined in the local government plan.

(f) Core service agency is a local governmental unit which receives community support services funding or a provider of services which has contracted with a local governmental unit to provide such core services.

(g) Designated adult home means an adult care facility, licensed by the Commissioner of Social Services pursuant to article 7 of the Social Services Law, which has been designated by the Commissioner of Mental Health as containing a significant number of seriously and chronically mentally ill individuals who are in need of community support services.

(h) Designated shelter for the homeless means a shelter for the homeless, licensed by the Commissioner of Social Services pursuant to article 7 of the Social Services Law, which has been designated by the Commissioner of Mental Health as containing a significant number of seriously and chronically mentally ill individuals who are in need of community support services.

(i) Designated single room occupancy residence means a single room occupancy, as defined in the Multiple Dwelling Law or the Multiple Residence Law, which has been designated by the Commissioner of Mental Health as containing a significant number of seriously and chronically mentally ill individuals who are in need of community support services.

(j) Direct contract means a contract between the Office of Mental Health and a provider of services other than a local governmental unit. Such contract shall require the provision of specified units of community support services, administrative services or management/monitoring services to be provided by the provider of services which shall be funded by the Office of Mental Health.

(k) Director means the director of community services, who is the chief executive officer of the local governmental unit, by whatever title known.

(l) Functionally disabled means a severe, chronic disability which is caused by a medically determined mental illness, as evidenced by a principal psychiatric diagnosis, which is likely to continue for a prolonged period, and which results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas: self-care, social functioning, activities of daily living, economic self-sufficiency, self-direction, and ability to concentrate.

(m) Local government is a county, except a county within the City of New York, and the City of New York.

(n) Local government plan is the local services plan, as defined in section 41.18 of the Mental Hygiene Law, or the unified services plan, as defined in sections 41.19, 41.21 and 41.23 of the Mental Hygiene Law. Such plan outlines current local or unified services and contains a comprehensive proposal for the annual, intermediate and long range plans and expenditures by the local governmental unit and by providers of services pursuant to contracts with the local governmental unit.

(o) Local governmental unit means the unit of local government given authority in accordance with article 41 of the Mental Hygiene Law to provide services in accordance with the local government plan for the mentally ill.

(p) Nurse is an individual who is currently licensed as a registered professional nurse by the New York State Education Department.

(q) Provider of services means a local governmental unit, voluntary agency, proprietary agency, association or corporation which provides services for the community support services eligible population.

(r) Psychiatrist is an individual currently licensed as a physician by the New York State Education Department, who is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or is eligible to be certified by that board, or is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry or is eligible to be certified by that board.

(s) Psychologist is an individual who is currently licensed as a psychologist by the New York State Education Department.

(t) Qualified residence means a community residence, residential care center for adults, family care home, or residential treatment facility for children and youth which is licensed or operated by the Office of Mental Health.

(u) Social worker is an individual who is either currently licensed as a certified social worker by the New York State Education Department or has a master's degree in social work from a program approved by the New York State Education Department.