Pennsylvania Code (Last Updated: April 5, 2016) |
Title 55. PUBLIC WELFARE |
PART VIII. Intellectual Disability and Autism Manual |
Subpart C. Administration and Fiscal Management |
Chapter 6201. County Mental Retardation Services |
Section 6201.1. Introduction
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(a) The county program is the means by which minimum services, as described in the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act of 1966 (50 P. S. § § 41014704), are available to promote the social, personal, physical and economical habilitation or rehabilitation of mental retarded persons with respect for the full human, social and legal rights of each person. This means that the health, social, educational, vocational, environmental and legal resources that serve the general population shall be marshalled and coordinated by the county program to meet the personal development goals of mentally retarded persons, in accordance with the principle of normalization. Normalization means to ensure for every mentally retarded person and his family the right to live a life as close as possible to that which is typical for the general population. The mandated services, the provision of service mechanisms and the fiscal support of the program shall be used to secure for each person and his family the conditions and circumstances of day-to-day life that comes as close as possible to representing typical life patterns.
(b) In keeping with this principle of normalization, the county program shall serve as an advocate for persons who are mentally retarded and secure for them their full entitlement to existing and future human services available to the general population.