Section 206. Informal caregiver training

1.  The  director  is  hereby
  authorized and directed, to  the  extent  appropriations  are  available
  therefor,  to  develop,  establish  and  operate  training and technical
  assistance programs, including  caregiver  resource  centers,  caregiver
  networks,   and   other  support  activities,  for  informal  caregivers
  throughout the state for the purposes of assisting such  caregivers  and
  improving  the  quality  of care provided to frail and disabled persons.
  The director shall also make available and encourage the utilization  of
  such  training programs in consultation with the commissioner of health,
  the commissioner of the office of  children  and  family  services,  the
  commissioner   of   mental   health,  and  the  commissioner  of  mental
  retardation and developmental disabilities.
    2. Definitions. For  the  purposes  of  this  section:  (a)  "Informal
  caregiver"  shall  mean  the  family  member or other natural person who
  normally provides the daily care or supervision of a frail  or  disabled
  person,  or any family member or other natural person who contributes to
  and is involved in the caretaking responsibilities  for  such  frail  or
  disabled  person.  Such  informal caregiver may, but need not, reside in
  the same household as the frail or disabled person.
    (b) "Frail or disabled person" shall mean any person who is unable  to
  attend  to  his  or  her  daily  needs without the assistance or regular
  supervision  of  an  informal  caregiver  due  to  mental  or   physical
  impairment.  Such  definition  shall  not exclude persons under eighteen
  years of age who suffer from mental or physical impairment.
    (c) "Program" shall mean the program of  informal  caregiver  training
  and technical assistance established by this section.
    (d)  "Caregiver  resource center" shall mean a project funded pursuant
  to this  section  which  provides  services  and  activities  which  are
  responsive  to  the needs and contracts of informal caregivers in regard
  to their caregiving responsibilities.
    (e) "Caregiver networks" shall mean local  coalitions  which  develop,
  coordinate,   and  implement  action  plans  to  identify  and  mobilize
  resources to address the unmet needs of frail and disabled  persons  and
  their caregivers.
    3.  (a)  The  duties  of  the  director pursuant to this section shall
  include, but not be limited to:
    (1) developing and make available or approve a curriculum for informal
  caregiver training which considers and is easily adapted to an array  of
  personal  needs  and  disabilities, and which is sensitive to ethnic and
  community characteristics;
    (2)  providing  technical  assistance  and  training  to   appropriate
  organizations  and  groups,  including  caregiver  resource  centers and
  caregiver  networks,  which,  in  turn,  shall  provide   training   and
  assistance to informal caregivers; and
    (3)   providing   grants  to  appropriate  organizations  and  groups,
  including caregiver resource centers and caregiver networks, to  develop
  and make available approved curricula for informal caregiver training as
  well as disseminate information regarding the curriculum.
    (b)  Training  and  technical  assistance  shall  include,  but not be
  limited to:
    (1) knowledge of  major  health  problems  and  diseases,  mental  and
  physical disabilities, and the aging process;
    (2) practical skills required in providing personal care and support;
    (3)  stress  awareness  and  methods  of dealing with stress caused by
  providing care;
    (4) financial management; and
    (5) identification and utilization of available  resources,  including
  benefits, entitlements, and other programs and assistance.

    4. The director shall:
    (a)  Promulgate  any  rules and regulations necessary to carry out the
  provisions of this section.
    (b) On or before the first day of January every other year,  submit  a
  report  to  the  governor, the temporary president of the senate and the
  speaker of the assembly, which shall include, but not be limited to:
    (1) a financial report of the program's operation;
    (2) a profile of persons or groups receiving  training  and  technical
  assistance pursuant to this section; and
    (3)  an  analysis  of  the  program's  success  in  assisting informal
  caregivers and improving the quality of care provided by such persons.