N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law § 41.42: Family support programs

§ 41.42 Family support programs.

The commissioner of mental health, directly or through contract, and

within amounts made available therefor, shall establish a family support

program. The purpose of the program shall be to examine the impact of

the provision of educational and support services on the incidence of

hospitalization. Such services shall be provided to family members

caring for chronically, mentally ill relatives at home and shall include

but not be limited to ongoing psychoeducational training which will

enhance the family's ability to care for disabled relatives at home by

assisting them in understanding the nature and cause of the mental

illness and providing them with the knowledge of strategies for handling

the symptoms and behavior of disabled family members. The commissioner

may authorize the development of a training curriculum, and a staff

training program to implement this program and to design and carry out

an evaluation of this program.