New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 14 - DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HYGIENE
Chapter XIII - Office of Mental Health
Part 585 - Standards For Family Care Homes
Section 585.3 - Definitions

(a) Certified capacity means the maximum number of residents who can be placed in a family care home, as specified on the operating certificate of the home.

(b) Commissioner means the Commissioner of Mental Health.

(c) Family care home means a combination of a private residence and a family certified by the commissioner to provide 24-hour residential services in a small family setting.

(d) Family care program means a residential program comprised of family care homes certified by the Office of Mental Health, operated by a program sponsor.

(e) Family care provider means one or more adults (age 21 or older) approved by the commissioner to operate a certified family care home.

(f) Family care resident means an individual (age 18 or older) with a history of mental illness who has been placed in a family care home because he or she is in need of a supervised residential setting.

(g) Natural person means a human being, as distinguished from an artificial person created by law (e.g., a corporation).

(h) Office means the New York State Office of Mental Health.

(i) Operating certificate means a written document conveying to the public the authorization by the commissioner for a family care provider to operate a family care home.

(j) Private residence means a building or a part thereof with provisions for living, cooking, sanitary, and sleeping facilities arranged for the use of one family.

(k) Program sponsor means a State-operated psychiatric center or community-based provider of mental health services that operates a family care program, in which residential services are provided in family care homes by family care providers.