§ 40.1-5.4-7. Definitions. When used in this chapter:

(1) "Adult with serious mental illness" means a person with serious mental illness, eighteen (18) years or older and not under the jurisdiction of the department of children, youth, and families.

(2) "Case management" means the services provided by mental health staff for the purpose of monitoring and assisting clients in their overall life situations, including gaining access to needed medical, social, educational, residential, vocational, and other services necessary to meeting basic human needs. These services may include, but are not necessarily limited to:

(i) Maintaining assessments and evaluations necessary for establishing eligibility of services;

(ii) Participation in the treatment planning process and monitoring client progress in meeting the goals and objectives of the plan;

(iii) Locating, monitoring, and coordinating all necessary medical, social, psychiatric, and residential services;

(iv) Assisting in the development of appropriate social networks;

(v) Assistance with other activities necessary to maintain psychiatric stability in a community-based setting.

(3) "Community mental health centers" means the eight (8) private, nonprofit agencies established pursuant to § 40.1-8.5-1 et seq.

(4) "Community support program" means a program of services, including case management services, supports and treatment that allow adults with serious mental illness to function effectively in the community.

(5) "Department" means the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals.

(6) "Diagnosis and evaluation" means a process to determine whether and to what extent an individual has a serious mental illness and a study of the individual's condition, situation, and needs, which lead to a recommendation of what services, if any, would benefit the individual.

(7) "Emergency services" means crisis intervention services available on a twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7) day a week basis; the intervention shall include screening and evaluation of the need for inpatient or outpatient treatment and admission to such services, as appropriate.

(8) "Individualized treatment plan" means a written plan, however named, which includes, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(i) An evaluation of the strengths, difficulties, needs and goals of the individual;

(ii) A description of those services, including supportive, rehabilitative, housing assistance and case management services, found to be necessary or appropriate to assist the individual in realizing his or her potential for self-sufficiency in major life activities and in moving towards recovery;

(iii) A description of the agencies and/or individuals, which are proposed to provide each of the recommended services;

(iv) The intermediate and long-range objectives for the individual's rehabilitation and well-being;

(v) The expected duration for the provision of each of the services;

(vi) A description of the tests and other evaluative devices used and their results;

(vii) Proposed criteria for monitoring and evaluating the success of the services in meeting the individual's needs; and

(viii) The signatures of the preparers of the plan and the date the plan was prepared. This plan shall be reviewed at least annually.

(9) "Rehabilitative services" means and includes, but shall not be limited to, medication supervision and maintenance, counseling, day treatment programs, clinical services, vocational, and psychiatric services.

(10) "Serious mental illness" means an illness which is biologically based, severe in degree and persistent in duration, which causes a substantially diminished level of functioning in the primary aspects of daily living and an inability to cope with the ordinary demands of life, which may lead to an inability to maintain stable adjustment and independent functioning without long-term treatment and support and which may be of lifetime duration. Serious mental illness includes schizophrenia, bi-polar disorders as well as a spectrum of psychotic and other severely disabling psychiatric diagnostic categories, but does not include infirmities of aging or a primary diagnosis of mental retardation, alcohol, or drug abuse or anti-social behavior.

History of Section. (P.L. 1994, ch. 247, § 1.)