NY Ment Hygiene L § 7.41 (2021)
2021 New York Laws MHY - Mental Hygiene Title B - Mental Health Act Article 7 - Office of Mental Health 7.41 - Geriatric Service Demonstration Program.

§ 7.41 Geriatric service demonstration program.  (a)  The  office  shall  establish  a  geriatric service demonstration program to provide grants, within appropriations therefor, to  providers of  mental  health  care,  substance  use  disorder services, compulsive gambling services, or any combination thereof, to the elderly, including organizations that provide health and aging services as well  as  mental health,  substance  use disorder, and compulsive gambling organizations. The office is also  authorized,  under  the  demonstration  program,  to foster and support collaboration between providers of home care services licensed  or certified under article thirty-six of the public health law and mental health providers for the integration  of  health  and  mental health  care,  and  for all other enumerated goals of this section. Such program shall be administered by the  office  in  cooperation  with  the office  of alcoholism and substance abuse services, the state office for the aging and such  other  state  agencies  as  the  commissioner  shall determine are necessary for the operation of the program.  (b)  Grants may be awarded by the office to providers of care to older adults with mental  disabilities,  substance  use  disorder,  compulsive gambling, or any combination thereof, for the purposes which may include one or more of the following:  (1)  Community  integration.  Programs  which enable older adults with mental  disabilities  or  older  adults  suffering  from  substance  use disorder  or  compulsive  gambling  to  age  safely in the community and prevent the unnecessary use of institutional care;  (2) Improved quality of treatment. Programs  for  older  adults  which improve  the  quality  of  mental health care, substance use disorder or compulsive  gambling  services  in  the  community  or  in   residential facilities;  (3)  Integration  of  services. Programs which integrate mental health and  aging  services  with  alcohol,  drug,  health  and  other  support services;  (4)  Workforce.  Programs  which  make  more  efficient  use of mental health, substance use disorder, compulsive gambling,  health  and  aging services  professionals  by  developing  alternative  service  roles for paraprofessionals and volunteers, including  peers,  and  programs  more effective  in  recruitment  and  retention of bi-lingual, bi-cultural or culturally competent staff;  (5)  Family  support.  Programs  which  provide  support  for   family caregivers,  to include the provision of care to older adults by younger family members and by older adults to younger family members;  (6) Finance. Programs which have developed and implemented  innovative financing methodologies to support the delivery of best practices;  (7)  Specialized  populations.  Programs which concentrate on outreach to, engagement of and effective  treatment  of  cultural  minorities  or veterans as defined in section eighty-five of the civil service law;  (8)  Information clearinghouse. Programs which compile, distribute and make available information on clinical developments, program innovations and policy developments which improve the  care  to  older  adults  with mental   disabilities  or  suffering  from  substance  use  disorder  or compulsive gambling; and  (9) Staff training. Programs which offer on-going training initiatives including  improved  clinical  and  cultural  skills,   evidence   based geriatric  mental health, substance use disorder and compulsive gambling treatment skills, and  the  identification  and  management  of  mental, behavioral and substance abuse disorders among older adults.  (c)  The  commissioner  may  adopt  rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.