N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law § 36.01: Crisis stabilization centers

§ 36.01 Crisis stabilization centers.

(a) (1) The commissioners are authorized to jointly license crisis

stabilization centers subject to the availability of state and federal

funding.

(2) A crisis stabilization center shall serve as a voluntary and

urgent service provider for persons at risk of a mental health or

substance abuse crisis or who are experiencing a crisis related to a

psychiatric and/or substance use disorder that are in need of crisis

stabilization services. Each crisis stabilization center shall provide

or contract to provide person centered and patient driven crisis

stabilization services for mental health or substance use twenty-four

hours per day, seven days per week, including but not limited to:

(i) Engagement, triage and assessment;

(ii) Continuous observation;

(iii) Mild to moderate detoxification;

(iv) Sobering services;

(v) Therapeutic interventions;

(vi) Discharge and after care planning;

(vii) Telemedicine;

(viii) Peer support services; and

(ix) Medication assisted treatment.

(3) The commissioners shall require each crisis stabilization center

to submit a plan. The plan shall be approved by the commissioners prior

to the issuance of a license pursuant to this article. Each plan shall

include:

(i) a description of the center's catchment area,

(ii) a description of the center's crisis stabilization services,

(iii) agreements or affiliations with hospitals as defined in section

1.03 of this chapter,

(iv) agreements or affiliations with general hospitals or law

enforcement to receive persons,

(v) a description of local resources available to the center to

prevent unnecessary hospitalizations of persons,

(vi) a description of the center's linkages with local police

agencies, emergency medical services, ambulance services and other

transportation agencies,

(vii) a description of local resources available to the center to

provide appropriate community mental health and substance use disorder

services upon release,

(viii) written criteria and guidelines for the development of

appropriate planning for persons in need of post community treatment or

services,

(ix) a statement indicating that the center has been included in an

approved local services plan developed pursuant to article forty-one of

this chapter for each local government located within the center's

catchment area; and

(x) any other information or agreements required by the commissioners.

(4) Crisis stabilization centers shall participate in county and

community planning activities annually, and as additionally needed, in

order to participate in local community service planning processes to

ensure, maintain, improve or develop community services that demonstrate

recovery outcomes. These outcomes include, but are not limited to,

quality of life, socio-economic status, entitlement status, social

networking, coping skills and reduction in use of crisis services.

(b) Each crisis stabilization center shall be staffed with a

multidisciplinary team capable of meeting the needs of individuals

experiencing all levels of crisis in the community, which shall include,

but not be limited to, at least one psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse

practitioner, a credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor

and one peer support specialist on duty and available at all times.

(c) The commissioners shall promulgate regulations necessary to the

operation of such crisis stabilization centers.

(d) Where a crisis stabilization center has been established prior to

the effective date of this article, the previously established center

may be issued a license where the provider can demonstrate substantial

compliance with minimum crisis service standards necessary for patient

safety and program efficacy.

(e) For the purpose of addressing unique rural service delivery needs

and conditions, the commissioners shall provide technical assistance for

the establishment of crisis stabilization centers otherwise approved

under the provisions of this section, including technical assistance to

promote and facilitate the establishment of such centers in rural areas

in the state or combinations of rural counties.

(f) The commissioners shall develop guidelines for educational

materials to assist crisis stabilization centers in educating local

practitioners, community mental health and substance abuse programs,

hospitals, law enforcement and peers. Such materials shall include

appropriate education relating to de-escalation techniques, cultural

competency, the recovery process, mental health, substance use, and

avoidance of aggressive confrontation.

(g) Within the amounts appropriated, the commissioners shall arrange

for appropriate training to law enforcement entities, first responders,

including but not limited to firefighters and emergency medical services

personnel, and any other entities deemed appropriate by the

commissioners, located within the catchment area of a crisis

stabilization center. The training may include but not be limited to:

(1) crisis intervention team training; (2) mental health first aid; (3)

implicit bias training; and (4) naloxone training. Such training may be

provided in an electronic format or other format as deemed appropriate

by the commissioners. The commissioners may contract with an

organization with the knowledge and expertise in providing the training

required under this subdivision.