TITLE X
PUBLIC HEALTH

Chapter 126-P
FAMILY MUTUAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Section 126-P:1

126-P:1 Definitions. –
In this chapter:
I. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the department of health and human services.
II. "Department" means the department of health and human services.
II-a. "Family mutual support organization" means a nonprofit corporation that provides family mutual support services, as defined in paragraph III and further described in RSA 126-P:2, III and IV.
III. "Family mutual support services" that is, families helping families, include, but are not limited to, culturally relevant, family-focused educational, informational, referral, and advocacy services that support families in their roles as primary caregivers for adults and children with mental conditions and that help families navigate through the multiple service systems they encounter.
IV. "Mental conditions" means mental disorders as defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association (DSM), excluding those disorders designated by a "V Code" in the DSM.

Source. 2001, 140:2. 2005, 177:20, eff. July 1, 2005.

Section 126-P:2

126-P:2 Family Mutual Support Services. –
I. The department shall establish family mutual support organizations to utilize their skills and experiences to help improve treatment planning processes, treatment delivery systems, and treatment evaluation as well as quality improvement activities of the department. Family members shall be included on advisory boards, statewide planning committees, regional quality improvement teams, and research design and program evaluation committees.
II. All services to families, whether provided by clinicians or family mutual support organizations, shall be provided in a manner that develops comprehensive, culturally responsive support to families in their role as primary caregivers of adults and children with mental conditions.
III. Family mutual support services shall include statewide education and training activities to individuals with mental conditions and shall support families in their roles as primary caregivers of adults and children with mental conditions. Further, family mutual support services shall assist family members of persons with mental conditions to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of multiple service systems, and to facilitate family support groups in community mental health program regions.
IV. Family mutual support services shall include statewide education to the public about mental illness to reduce the stigma associated with mental conditions and their impact on individuals and their families.
V. The New Hampshire developmental disabilities council shall assist the department in developing any requests for proposals for family mutual support services, which shall include adult services, before they are released for competitive bidding, and shall participate in selection.

Source. 2001, 140:2. 2007, 263:53, eff. July 1, 2007.

Section 126-P:3

126-P:3 Administration. – The department shall administer this chapter and shall coordinate family mutual support services with existing services for individuals with mental conditions and their families.

Source. 2001, 140:2, eff. Aug. 28, 2001.

Section 126-P:4

126-P:4 Rulemaking. – The commissioner shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the proper administration of this chapter.