B.        MENTAL RETARDATION

1.00     Legal and Statutory Bases 

1.01     Legal and Statutory Rights:  Has an understanding and knowledge regarding the rights of people who receive mental retardation services within Maine's Public Law, civil rights as well as rights of recipients (Refer to Section 3 – Mental Retardation Case Management Manual). 

1.02     Community Consent Decree:  Has a working understanding of the Community Consent Decree, its history, implementation, class, and services required. 

1.03     Guardianship:  Understands what it means to act as a delegate for the Public Guardian including procedures and limits of authority. 

1.04     Behavioral Regulations:  Knowledge of best practice of behavior intervention and supports. Knowledge of regulations about emergency and behavior management interventions. 

1.05     Reporting Requirements:  Understands the requirements of adult protective and reportable events reporting requirements. Knowledgeable of reportable/critical events and of associated timeline requirements. 

1.06     Eligibility: Knowledge and understanding of the legal requirements regarding eligibility and referral for Mental Retardation Services (Refer to Section II in Mental Retardation Services Case Management Manual). 

2.00     Concepts and Definitions 

2.01     Mental Retardation: Understands specific MR diagnoses. 

2.02     Signs and Symptoms: Understands and recognizes the many signs, symptoms and indicators associated with mental retardation. 

2.03     Coexisting Disorders: Understands and is able to identify symptoms and dynamics of co-existing disorders, including disorders related to trauma, and the need for collaborative efforts for better therapeutic outcomes for this population. 

3.00     Screening, Intake, and Assessments 

3.01     Intake Assessment: Understands and utilizes appropriate techniques to develop an accurate historical picture of the client and other significant members of the family. 

3.02     Crisis Assessment: Understands when and where to go for crisis assessment. 

3.03     Professional Testing: Understands and is able to read conclusions of psychological tests as well as other types of assessments and use the information in referrals. 

4.00     Approaches to Mental Retardation Issues: 

4.01     Holistic Practice:  Understands physical, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of life for each person served. 

4.02     Psychosocial Supports:  Has knowledge of client centered psychosocial supports.

4.03     Family Systems Model:  Understands the theoretical framework and dynamics of family systems as they affect adults who have mental retardation. 

4.04     Spirituality:  Understand the dynamics of spirituality in overall well being. 

4.05     Sexuality:  Knows the issues and resources available or needed to support healthy sexuality for each person receiving services. 

4.06     Role-Modeling:  Actively incorporates and demonstrates personal and professional empowerment principles such as conflict management, assertive communication, respect and acknowledgment of biases. 

4.07     Basic Pharmacology: Has knowledge of basic pharmacology including side therapeutic effects and effects along with the service recipient viewpoint on these medications and their effects. 

4.08     Empathy: Ability to understand the needs of persons with varying degrees of mental retardation. 

4.09     Client-centered: Understands the value of individualized services, inclusion, and community participation and self-determination. 

4.10     Trauma: Understands vulnerability of people with developmental disabilities. Acts to prevent traumatic occurrences. As needed, seeks sources of healing.

5.00     Approaches to Planning With People 

5.01     Interventions: Has knowledge of and can use as appropriate a wide variety of intervention strategies that support the client's efforts to grow and change. 

5.02     Person-Centered Planning: Knows the principles and values underlying Person-Centered Planning: 

A.        Is able to work collaboratively with the consumer and the planning team to identify needs and desires, and describe specific actions to be undertaken to address those needs and desires. 

B.        Is able to develop interim plans to address unmet needs. 

C.        Is able to produce required documentation in print or electronic form. 

D.        Assesses compliance with standards for written plans produced by others. 

E.        Monitors progress and participates in modifying plans as needed. 

5.03     Independent Living:  Understands the value of a self-directed life. 

5.04     Positive Supports:  Has knowledge of and is able to implement positive behavioral supports and approaches to challenging behaviors. 

5.05     Counseling:  Understands and is able to use appropriate informal counseling techniques. 

5.06     Support/Care Distinction:  Knowledge of the difference between "continuum of support" and "continuum of professional care". 

5.07     Advocacy:  Actively and capably supports consumers in developing self-advocacy skills. 

5.08          Multi-Dimensional:  Understands the relationship among mental health and trauma issues, substance abuse issues, educational issues, social justice and legal issues and how they interact to support the client and family as well as pose the potential for conflict. 

5.09     Sexuality:  Understands and capably supports consumers in developing healthy sexual identity. 

5.10     Spirituality:  Has knowledge of consumer’s spiritual beliefs and practices; coordinates supports for these practices when needed or requested. 

6.00     Community Services 

6.01     Community Based Supports and Services: Has a working knowledge of the community services and natural supports available to assist persons with mental retardation to achieve and maintain valued social roles in their communities - vocational, recreational, voluntary, social, and religious. 

6.02     Residential-Out of Home Services: Has a working knowledge and understanding of the residential options available to adults with mental retardation.

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