Sec. 10.21.07.02. Definitions

A. In this chapter, terms have the meanings stated in COMAR 14.31.05, 14.31.06, and in this chapter.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Administration" means the Mental Hygiene Administration.

(2) "Case coordinator" means the mental health professional or residential care specialist supervised by a mental health professional who coordinates the services, as outlined in a child's TGH individual treatment plan (ITP), to the child.

(3) "Clinical coordinator" means the mental health professional who is responsible for oversight of the clinical services provided to children in a TGH.

(4) "Contact note" means an entry that:

(a) Is made in an individual's medical record by a program staff member; and

(b) Describes face-to-face, written, or telephone contact with or regarding the individual.

(5) "Core service agency (CSA)" means the county or multi-county authority, designated under Health-General Article, Title 10, Subtitle 12, Annotated Code of Maryland, and approved by the Department, that is responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring publicly funded mental health services.

(6) "Department" means the Maryland Department of Health.

(7) “Governor’s Office for Children (GOC)” means the office created under Executive Order 01.01.2005.34.

(8) "Group home" means a private group home, as defined in Health-General Article, §10-514, Annotated Code of Maryland, that provides mental health services in a residential facility.

(9) "Managed care organization (MCO)" means a health care organization, as defined in Health-General Article, §15-101(f), Annotated Code of Maryland.

(10) "Medical record" means a record as defined in Health-General Article, §4-301, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(11) "Mental health professional" means:

(a) A psychiatrist; or

(b) An individual who is authorized by the Health Occupations Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, to provide the service for which the individual is privileged.

(12) "Primary caretaker" means the:

(a) Child's custodial parent or parents;

(b) Adult with whom the child currently resides; or

(c) Legal guardian.

(13) "Privileging" means the process by which a program determines that staff members are qualified to perform assigned duties.

(14) "Progress summary note" means an entry by an individual's treatment coordinator in the individual's medical record and that describes the individual's progress toward the goals delineated in the individual's ITP.

(15) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary's designee.

(16) "Small private group home" means a residence as defined in Health-General Article, §§10-514(d) and (e) and 10-518(b), Annotated Code of Maryland.

(17) Therapeutic Group Home (TGH).

(a) "Therapeutic group home (TGH)" means a small private group home.

(b) "Therapeutic group home (TGH)" does not include a foster home that is the domicile of the foster parent.

(c) "Therapeutic group home (TGH)" does not include a facility that is:

(i) Owned by or leased to the State or any public agency;

(ii) Regulated by the Department of Juvenile Services, Department of Human Services, or Developmental Disabilities Administration; or

(iii) Organized wholly or partly to make a profit.

(18) "Therapeutic milieu" means an environment that is clinically structured to provide mental health treatment in a place other than the individual's residence.