Section 24-8-3-4 - SponsorshipA. Sponsor Qualifications In order to serve as a Sponsor, an individual must meet at least one of the following qualifications:
(1) Hold a current position as a director/ executive director (top-level administrator) of a program as described in Chapter 3, Section 1, A., p. 6, with at least three (3) years of administrative experience in the State of Mississippi; or(2) Hold a current position as the Chair of a governing Board or Commission of a program as described in Chapter 3, Section 1, A., p. 6; or(3) Hold current licensure as a MH/MR Administrator. See Chapter 3, Section 6, B., (1), p. 14 for a description of current licensure status.B. Sponsor Responsibilities When sponsoring an Applicant for DMH MH/MR Administrator Licensure, the Sponsor is understood to agree to the following responsibilities upon the Applicant's admission to the program and designation as a Participant:
(1) To maintain contact with the Participant and oversee the progress of the Participant's work toward obtaining licensure;(2) To serve as a resource to the Participant during the period of Independent Study and Training (See Chapter 3, Section 5, pp. 9-13), including providing assistance, if needed, in locating appropriate copies of rules, regulations, standards, etc.; and,(3) To review and sign all progress reports submitted by the Participant to the Division indicating the Participant's progress/ work/activity toward licensure. Equitable time frames for submitting progress reports will be established by the Division for each Participant. See Chapter 3, Section 5, C. and D., pp. 11-12 for more information on submission of progress reports.(4) In the event that the Participant fails any written examination twice, the Sponsor and the Participant will be required to submit and complete a plan for remedial study as indicated in Chapter 3, Section 5, B., pp. 10-11.(5) A qualified individual may not serve as the Sponsor of more than five (5) Participants simultaneously. However, if there is an emergency need to sponsor more than is indicated, the Review Board may grant a waiver, at the next regularly scheduled meeting, upon receipt of a written request from both the Applicant and Sponsor.C. Participant Responsibilities When applying for admission to the DMH MH/MR Administrator Licensure program, the Applicant is understood to agree to the following responsibilities regarding his/her Sponsor upon the Applicant's admission to the program and designation as a Participant:
(1) Participants must keep their Sponsor apprised of their progress/work/activity toward licensure and must obtain their Sponsors' original signatures on all submitted progress reports. See Chapter 3, Section 5, C., (1), p. 11.(2) Participants must make all reasonable effort to maintain consistent progress toward licensure, recalling that default from the program affects both the Participant and the Sponsor. See Chapter 3, Section 5, D., (1), p. 12.(3) Participants must keep the Sponsor apprised of any situation which would require the Participant and Sponsor to make a written request for "inactive" Participant status. See Chapter 3, Section 5, D., (1), (e), p. 12 and Chapter 3, Section 6, A., (2), p. 13 for more information on "inactive" Participant status.(4) In the event that a Participant is separated from his/her Sponsor (due to the extended illness/ death of the Sponsor, separation of the Sponsor from appropriate employment, Sponsor disqualification, etc.,) the Participant must seek the sponsorship of another qualified Sponsor. The Participant and new Sponsor must notify the Review Board in writing of the change including the name, title and effective date of the new Sponsor.D. Sponsor Disqualification A Sponsor shall no longer be considered qualified to serve as a Sponsor in the following instances;
(1) If the Sponsor leaves appropriate employment as indicated in Chapter 3, Section 1, A., p. 6.(2) If the Sponsor leaves his/her seat on the governing Board or Commission of a program as described in Chapter 3, Section 1, A., p. 6.(3) If the Participant defaults due to inactivity, as described in Chapter 3, Section 5, D., (1), p. 12, the Sponsor will not be considered as qualified to serve as a Sponsor for a period of one (1) year from the date of default.(4) If the Sponsor is found to be in violation of any of the rules and/or regulations governing Sponsorship of the MH/MR Administrator Licensure program.(5) If the Sponsor is found guilty of any of the offenses referred to in Chapter 8, Section 1, p. 30.(6) If the Sponsor has any other professional certification/licensure revoked for cause;(7) Determination by the Court of mental incompetency.24 Miss. Code. R. § 8-3-4