New Jersey Administrative Code

(a) Since the enactment of the Community Mental Health Services Act in 1957, there has been a broad expansion of public funding sources administered by the State and utilized to support community mental health services. In addition to grant-in-aid, there are funds from Title XX o…

The rules within this chapter apply to provider agency programs funded by the Division governed by the standards at N.J.A.C. 10:37A through 37I. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-1.2 New Rule, R.1995 d.596, effective 11/20/1995. See: 27 New Jersey Register 2666(a), 27 New Jersey Reg…

(a) The Community Mental Health Citizens Advisory Board shall consist of 15 members, to be appointed as described by Statute. Eight members shall be chosen from citizens of the State who, as consumers, have demonstrated an interest in the delivery of mental health services; one f…

(a) The role of the Board shall be to serve as advocate and advisory to the Department for the development of mental health services in the community. To fulfill this role, the Board shall become and continue to be thoroughly acquainted with those programs of the Department deali…

(a) The Board may establish within itself committees, as it deems necessary. (b) The Board may establish any subsidiary unsalaried advisory or consultant committees or study groups as it may deem necessary and shall appoint the members thereof. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-2.3…

The Board shall have the right to make recommendations, to the Division and the Department, concerning any aspect of mental health service delivery covered in this chapter. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-2.4

(a) In order to participate under this act, each county board of chosen freeholders or county executive, hereinafter the "appointing authority," shall appoint a County Mental Health Board, hereinafter the "Board," of not less than seven nor more than twelve residents of the count…

(a) Members shall serve without compensation, for three years, with terms to begin July 1 and terminate June 30. Members may not be reappointed after serving two full three-year terms, until two years shall have elapsed since the expiration of such terms. (b) Vacancies shall be f…

Any member of a county mental health board who does not attend three consecutive board meetings without being excused, or does not attend more than 50 percent of the board's meetings in any single year, should upon notification by the County Mental Health Board Chairperson, be re…

(a) The following individuals shall not be eligible for County Mental Health Board membership: 1. A paid or unpaid employee/volunteer of an agency under the county mental health board's jurisdiction or funded by the Division; 2. A consultant of an agency under the county mental h…

(a) Procedural responsibilities: The County Mental Health Board shall: 1. Elect annually a chairperson; 2. Meet at least eight times each year; 3. Comply with the Senator Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act; 4. Establish, and at least annually review, formal procedures concern…

(a) The County Mental Health Board shall: 1. Appoint annually, members of its Professional Advisory Committee, minimally including a representative from each mental health agency receiving financial support from the Division. Two or more individuals connected with the same agency…

(a) By State law, all County Mental Health Boards may, with the approval of the Board of Freeholders, create the position of Mental Health Administrator. The Division strongly encourages the creation of this position in every County and suggests additional staff for the mental he…

(a) State reimbursement for the County Mental Health Administrator's salary shall be paid on a quarterly basis contingent upon: 1. The County's meeting the requirements of these regulations; 2. The Division's approval of the Administrator's credentials prior to hiring; and 3. Rec…

(a) As a means of reinforcing the concept of inter-governmental partnership in the delivery of public mental health services, the Division may enter into demonstration performance contracts, with a limited number of counties, for the county administration of all publicly funded m…

(a) Consumer involvement shall be facilitated and encouraged in areas such as service and program planning, service evaluation, and service delivery. (b) "Consumer" in this section shall be defined as: 1. A person who has applied for, is receiving or has received mental health se…

(a) Each State-funded mental health program shall develop and submit to the County Mental Health Board and to the Division an acceptable Consumer Affirmative Action Plan as part of its Fiscal Year 1982 funding application or contract. (b) The Consumer Affirmative Action Plan shal…

(a) For consumer membership see N.J.A.C. 10:37-3. (b) County Mental Health Boards shall hold at least one meeting annually for the purpose of directly gaining consumer input into the development of its annual mental Health Service Plan. Notice of this opportunity shall be posted …

(a) For Consumer Membership see N.J.A.C. 10:37-2. (b) Consumers and advocacy organizations shall be given an opportunity for review and involvement in the development of the annual State Mental Health Plan. (c) The Division shall hold at least one meeting annually for the express…

(a) This section shall apply to all State-funded mental health Program Elements. Inpatient Units, including 24-hour Supervised Treatment Homes providing crisis intervention services for children, are also required to comply with laws governing the treatment of persons admitted to…

(a) This section shall apply to all State-funded mental health programs. Any questions related to service delivery, denial or termination of services shall be an appropriate subject for review. Any client, applicant, or person who has been a client within the last three months or…

(a) It is the goal of the Division to implement every mental health program cited in N.J.A.C. 10:37-5, in every Service Area in the State. Minimally, as of July 1, 1981, there must be funded Emergency Services (ES) and Outpatient (OPD) programs serving every Service Area of the S…

(a) The goal of the mental health system is to provide comprehensive services to everyone in need. However, target populations have been established to assure that those who are most in need, and/or have traditionally been underserved, receive a reasonable level of service. These…

Notes N.J. Admin. Code §§ 10:37-5.3 through 10:37-5.53

(a) IPU programs shall provide 24-hour crisis-stabilization services, therapy, and supervision, outside of a client's home, in the least restrictive setting possible. (b) IPU program requirements shall apply to 24-hour supervised treatment homes providing residential crisis inter…

(a) Systemic use of local inpatient facilities: 1. Each agency receiving State mental health funding for IPU programs, and other mental health agencies in that Service Area, shall use that State-funded local IPU whenever feasible, rather than refer Service Area residents to count…

(a) State-funded IPU programs must house the unit in a facility licensed by the Department of Health and/or approved by the Department of Human Services. (b) IPU programs shall be eligible for public mental health funding as part of a formal continuum of services, demonstrated by…

(a) See N.J.A.C. 10:37-5.2. (b) IPU services should be made available to individuals who cannot cope successfully in the community at a time of crisis, are feeling severe emotional distress, and/or are dangerous to themselves or others. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-5.57

(a) Assessment and evaluation: 1. Every IPU client shall be assessed as to his/her Level of Functioning and Environment/Natural Support Systems. These assessments, in addition to the client's perceptions of his/her needs and emotional distress, should serve as bases for the devel…

(a) Inpatient Treatment/Service Approaches 1. IPU programs shall include a wide range of services and treatment modalities. These shall include medical psychiatric services, such as individual and group therapies, neuroleptics, etc. and various psychological interventions, such a…

(a) To adequately evaluate and meet the needs of clients, IPU programs shall have available a sufficient number of appropriate and qualified clinical, administrative, and support staff. (b) A mental health professional from the disciplines of psychiatry, psychology, social work, …

(a) IPU Services shall be provided in a setting as close to a normal home environment as possible, without sacrificing client safety or care. The Unit shall be furnished and decorated to effect a home-like environment. Clients shall be encouraged to use personal belongings: cloth…

(a) An acute inpatient admission should only last as long as it is clinically and medically justified. (b) If a client needs an IPU stay in excess of 30 days, his/her record shall clearly indicate the clinical and functional problems necessitating longer treatment in this setting…

Notes N.J. Admin. Code §§ 10:37-5.63 through 10:37-5.64

(a) C & E shall include preventive activities such as: 1. Social action; 2. Community organization and class advocacy services, as well as; 3. Community education; 4. Information and referral; 5. Consultation; and 6. Evaluation of C & E programs. Emphasis shall be on improving co…

(a) The C & E Director shall report directly to the mental health agency director, as a full member of the agency's mental health administration. (b) C & E Staff, through its director or designee, shall provide liaison services, as needed, to the agency's governing and advisory b…

(a) "Consultation" shall refer only to programs aimed at agencies, organizations and groups of people, NOT those provided directly to individual clients. 1. "Case consultation" to assist staff in other community service agencies to prevent target group clients (noted in N.J.A.C. …

(a) The following are target agencies and populations: 1. Mental health system gatekeepers, including but not limited to: i. Boarding/nursing homes; ii. General hospital emergency room staff; iii. Human service and health agencies; iv. Schools; v. Court system (judges, police, pa…

(a) Services to be provided: The C & E Program Element shall include, but not be limited to, these services:1. Community organization (See Service Dictionary for specific definitions): i. Locality development; ii. System planning (in concert with the County Mental Health Board); …

In all State-funded C & E Programs, there must be an identifiable C & E Unit with a designated Director. He/she must be involved in the actual delivery of C & E services as well as in their coordination, planning, development, and evaluation. The Director shall have demonstrated …

Workshops, lectures, discussion groups and programs may be held on-site or off-site. Outreach attempts must be made to reach gatekeepers, human service agencies and natural support systems. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-5.71

Notes N.J. Admin. Code §§ 10:37-5.72 through 10:37-5.73

(a) Systems Advocacy Services shall be available to the State target populations, as well as any underserved groups or geographical areas defined in an approved county plan. (b) SA services shall provide clients with a cluster of services that shall be available to the client, in…

(a) The goal is to have a SP Program Element in each county, in order to offer SA services to target population clients entering the mental health system. The specific role of the SA program in a particular county shall be outlined in an approved County Plan and/or in the State M…

(a) SA Program Element may be funded by, but is not limited to: 1. Grant-in-aid; 2. Community care and/or Federal CMHC; 3. Title XX; and 4. Other State or Federal funding sources. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-5.76

(a) SA programs shall serve target populations as indicated in N.J.A.C. 10:37-5.2. (b) When appropriate, every attempt shall be made to work with the families and other natural supports of all populations served. Notes N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-5.77

(a) Services to be provided may include, but shall not be limited to: 1. Service planning: Including, at a minimum, participation in preparation of Individual Service Plans, for specified clients. 2. Personal advocacy: i. Monitoring of Individual Service Plan (see N.J.A.C. 10:37-…