N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-3.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 10:37-3.5 - Roles, functions, and responsibilities

(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 concerning the composition of the Board and setting forth rules of order by which the Board shall operate;

5. Submit public notices and minutes of said meeting to the Division .

(b) Planning responsibilities: As set forth in the Division's Planning Guidelines:

1. Initiate and implement a planning process, encouraging participation from, at a minimum, other mental health planning authorities (for example, Health Systems Agency representatives) funded providers of services, clients, and interested citizens.

2. Develop a plan of mental health services for the county. At a minimum, that plan shall identify:

i. The county mental health authority(ies) and their respective roles and functions;

ii. The manner in which the plan was completed;

iii. A needs assessment section which reviews:

(1) The State and county identified target groups, and the reason they have been so identified;

(2) Services that are perceived by the community as being critical to meet the needs of identified State/county target groups;

(3) The availability or unavailability of those services identified in (b)2iii(2) above.

iv. A set of goals and objectives which will provide a framework for addressing the needs of State and locally identified target groups;

v. An action plan which designates the means and steps by which goals and objectives will be achieved.

3. Submit completed County Mental Health Plan to the Division within specified deadlines, for review and approval. If a county has a Charter form of government, the County Mental Health Board must submit the County Mental Health Plan to the County Executive or his/her designate, for review and approval, prior to submission to the Division.

4. In the event that:

i. A county mental health plan is approved by the Division, the county plan shall provide the framework for mental health funding and program development in that particular county.

ii. An approved plan is not submitted by the county, the framework for mental health activity in that particular county shall be provided by the goals and objectives of the Division, contained within its Annual State Plan.

5. The initiation of the planning process, and subsequent completion of the plan, shall be conducted within the general policies and principles of the Division.

6. The county mental health authority(ies) should take an active planning role in coordinating the services of other county offices and departments relating to mental health services.

(c) Implementation responsibilities: Based on the County Mental Health Plan, the County Mental Health Board shall, at a minimum:

1. Receive, review, comment and, where necessary, solicit the following:

i. Initial and continuation funding applications for:

(1) State hospitals;

(2) County hospitals;

(3) Community Mental Health Projects regardless of revenue source.

ii. Certificate of Need applications for Mental Health Agencies;

iii. Affiliation agreements.

2. Receive, review, and advise the Division on requested Service Area changes/redelineations.

3. Facilitate consumer advocacy and self-help groups.

4. Respond to client grievances as identified in 10:37-4.3.

5. Review and recommend funding allocations to agencies within the county, consistent with the approved County Mental Health Board Plan.

(d) Monitoring responsibilities: The County Mental Health Board shall monitor the service delivery and administration of all programs under the board's jurisdiction and make recommendations to the appropriate agency or department.

(e) Community education responsibilities: The County Mental Health Board shall encourage the development of and participate in community education programs.

(f) Assistance of Appointing Authority: The Appointing Authority should provide the Mental Health Board with suitable quarters and such assistance as may be required to carry out the functions identified above.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-3.5

Amended by 53 N.J.R. 1841(a), effective 11/1/2021