New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 3A - CHILDREN AND FAMILIES › Chapter 56 - MANUAL OF REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDREN'S GROUP HOMES › Subchapter 1 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS › Section 3A:56-1.2 - Definition and types of children's group homes

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) "Childrens group
				home" or "home" means any public or private establishment other than a resource
				family home that provides board, lodging, care, and treatment services on a 24-hour
				basis to 12 or fewer children in a homelike, community-based setting, except that
				psychiatric community homes for children may have a capacity of 15 or fewer
				children.
(b) Children's group homes
				that are subject to the provisions of this manual that typically serve children with
				less severe behavioral and emotional problems who are capable of functioning in a
				home-based setting are classified as follows:
1.
				Group home, which serves from six to 12 children with emotional, social, physical
				and/or behavioral needs who do not require a more restrictive facility for their own
				protection or that of others;
2.
				Supervised transitional living home, which serves 12 or fewer children who are 16
				years of age or older, require minimum guidance from staff members in preparation to
				live independently, and demonstrate maturity to function with minimal adult
				supervision. Homes that are designed to be located at scattered sites are not
				included in the requirements for supervised transitional living homes;
3. Teaching family home, which serves 12 or fewer
				children with emotional, behavioral or other disabilities and which is certified or
				in the process of being certified as a teaching family home in accordance with the
				standards of the National Teaching Family Association. Teaching family homes are
				used for children who require strong professional support and guidance to
				participate in the life of the community, but who do not require a more restrictive
				facility for their own protection or that of others;
4. Treatment home, which is an agency-operated
				residence serving five or fewer children who are capable of community living but who
				need a small group environment and intensive supervision by staff members in order
				to ameliorate emotional, social and/or behavioral difficulties. Treatment homes
				operating in private family dwellings, described as under lease or ownership of the
				residing family, shall operate at a capacity of no more than three children in
				placement where there is only one treatment home parent;
5. Alternative care home, which is an
				agency-operated residence serving three or fewer children with emotional, behavioral
				or other disabilities and which is certified or is in the process of being certified
				as an alternative care home in accordance with the standards of the National
				Teaching Family Association. Alternative care homes are used for children who
				require strong professional support and guidance to participate in the life of the
				community, but who do not require a more restrictive facility for their own
				protection or that of others; and
6.
				Psychiatric community homes for children, which are community residential programs
				that provide food, shelter and personal guidance on a 24-hour basis, under such
				supervision as required, to not more than 15 mentally ill children who require
				assistance. These homes are funded by or contracted with the Department for children
				who have received or may be at risk of inpatient care in an inpatient facility and
				who may benefit from psychiatric treatment within a community home, so as to avert
				more intensive treatment or to facilitate their return home or placement in a longer
				term residential facility. Such homes are not considered a health care facility
				within the meaning of the "Health Care Facilities Planning Act," P.L. 1971, c.
				136.