N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:51-7.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 12, June 17, 2024

Section 3A:51-7.4 - Psychotropic medication

(a) Level I psychotropic medication requirements are as follows:

1. Before any psychotropic medication is administered to a child in placement under age 18 or when the case plan states that the resource family parent is responsible, the resource family parent, in conjunction with the Division worker, shall ensure that the child's initial assessment to determine the need for and the possible risks or side effects of psychotropic medication is completed by a board-certified or board-eligible physician in one of the following areas of expertise: psychiatry, neurodevelopmental pediatrics, or pediatric neurology.

i. The resource family parent, in conjunction with the Division worker, may utilize the services of the physicians identified in (a)1 above, a pediatric or family physician, or an advanced practice nurse certified in pediatric or family medicine or psychiatric/mental health, to complete an initial assessment, being conducted solely for the purpose of assessing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and to determine the need for and the possible risks or side effects of the psychotropic medication.

2. The resource family parent shall be knowledgeable about the indications for the use of psychotropic medication, the therapeutic benefits and the side effects of such medication.

3. The resource family parent shall not administer psychotropic medication as a punishment or for the convenience of the resource family parent.

4. The resource family parent shall ensure that psychotropic medication is stored in an area inaccessible to children.

5. The resource family parent shall ensure that each child in placement who is under age 18 or whose case plan states that the resource family parent shall maintain this responsibility and who is prescribed psychotropic medication is monitored in the following manner:

i. The resource family parent shall immediately report any observed side effects, which are identified in the assessment specified in (a)1 and (a)1i above, to the Division worker and the prescriber.

ii. The resource family parent, in conjunction with the Division worker, shall ensure that ongoing assessments, psychotropic medication monitoring, and resultant prescriptions for a child in placement who is under age 18 only be conducted by a board-certified or board-eligible physician in one of the following areas of expertise: psychiatry, neurodevelopmental pediatrics, or pediatric neurology, or by an advanced practice nurse certified in psychiatric/mental health.

iii. The resource family parent, in conjunction with the Division worker, may utilize the services of the physicians or advanced practice nurses certified in psychiatric/mental health identified in (a)5ii above, or he or she may utilize the services of a pediatric or family physician, or an advanced practice nurse certified in pediatric or family medicine to complete the ongoing assessments, medication monitoring, and prescriptions, where ongoing assessments, medication monitoring, and prescriptions are solely for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

iv. The resource family parent, in conjunction with the Division worker, shall ensure that the prescriber reviews the child's status, behavior, well-being, progress, side effects, and reason for continuing the medication every 30 days or as the prescriber deems necessary.

v. The resource family parent, in conjunction with the Division worker, shall ensure that a pediatric or family physician or advanced practice nurse certified in pediatric or family medicine or psychiatric/mental health treating a child in placement who is under age 18 for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder coordinates care for each child in placement under age 18 who is also being treated for another psychiatric disorder by another prescriber.

(b) When a child in placement who is under age 18 is receiving psychotropic medication, the resource family parent shall maintain a medication log indicating the child's name, the type of psychotropic medication, and the date and time the medication is administered.

N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:51-7.4

Administrative Change, 49 N.J.R. 98a.

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 2792(a), effective 8/21/2017

Amended by 51 N.J.R. 1263(b), effective 8/5/2019