Section 6350.5. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Community Living Arrangements (CLA)—Apartments, group homes, developmental maximation units and foster homes.

Department—The Department of Human Services.

Family—A family exists in the following situations:

(i) Natural or adoptive parents who provide care for their retarded child or adult in the home of the parents.

(ii) Foster parents who care for their retarded child or adult in the home of the foster parents.

(iii) Related or unrelated persons who provide care for a retarded child or adult within their home.

Family aid—A ‘‘sitter-type’’ service offered to parents who need a person to care for their retarded family member for a few hours at a time.

Family education training—Programs offered to assist parents of a retarded child or adult, retarded individuals who are parents, spouses and siblings or other family members in dealing appropriately with a family member who is mentally retarded. This may include education/training in family dynamics, parent-child relationships, behavior management, genetic counseling, family planning, or other type of program designed to maintain the family as a cohesive unit.

Homemaker services—Homemakers may be available to perform essential household duties when family members or individuals are unable to manage such tasks effectively. This type of service may be to maintain continuity of care of a mentally retarded person within the home during a family illness or similar circumstance or to provide training in proper home management for the retarded person or his family or legal guardian with whom he resides.

Independent residence—Mentally retarded persons who are residing in the community, usually in their own home or apartment, who are able to pay for their own room, board, and clothing-type expenses.

Individual—A child or adult who is deemed mentally retarded by the county mental health/mental retardation administrator responsible for the county in which the individual resides. The evaluation process for mental retardation shall be in compliance with the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act of 1966 (50 P. S. § § 4101, 4102, 4201—4203, 4301—4305, 4401—4426, 4501—4512, 4601—4606 and 4701—4704).

In-home therapy—This service insures that the retarded family member will receive necessary treatment or therapy even when he is homebound. These therapies include but are not necessarily limited to the following:

(i) Visiting nurses.

(ii) Physical/occupational therapy.

(iii) Speech/language therapy/audiology.

(iv) Visual/mobility therapy.

(v) Vocational therapy.

(vi) Recreational therapy.

(vii) Dental hygienics.

(viii) Behavioral programming.

Recreation/leisure time activities—Services that allow the retarded person to experience normal community leisure time activities and increase his ability to participate more independently in similar activities.

Respite care—A temporary residence available to a retarded person when his family or legal guardian with whom he is residing is experiencing stress, personal crisis, or a need for a vacation.

Special innovative services—All services/opportunities considered for Family Resource Services (FRS) funding under this category must have written approval by the appropriate Department regional office prior to implementation. The expenditures for all services/opportunities funded under this category by a given County Mental Health/Mental Retardation (MH/MR) Office may not exceed 10% of the total FRS allocation for that county office.

State centers—Residential facilities owned and operated by the Department for the care and treatment of the mentally retarded.