30:4-177.64 Follow-up studies.

1. a. The Commissioner of Human Services shall conduct, or contract with another entity to conduct, a series of follow-up studies to assess the well-being of:

(1) all former residents of North Jersey Developmental Center and Woodbridge Developmental Center who have made a transition into the community after August 1, 2012, and also an assessment of the well-being of all former residents for each of the five years after the closure of both developmental centers;

(2) all former residents of other State developmental centers who have made a transition into the community after the effective date of this act as a result of the implementation of the plan developed pursuant to P.L.2006, c.61;

(3) all former residents of other State developmental centers who have made a transition into the community after the effective date of this act as a result of implementation of a plan to close another State developmental center, and also an assessment of the well-being of all former residents for each of the five years after the closure of another developmental center; and

(4) all former residents of State psychiatric hospitals who have made a transition into the community after the effective date of this act as a result of implementation of a plan to close a State psychiatric hospital, and also an assessment of the well-being of all former residents for each of the five years after the closure.

The studies shall evaluate former residents based on data collected after residents have been in the community for at least six months. For former residents who were scheduled to make a transition into the community as a result of a closure pursuant to paragraph (1), (3), or (4) of this subsection, the study shall also evaluate these former residents based on data collected at least six months prior to transition into the community.

b. Data for the studies shall be collected from all former residents, their family members or guardians, as appropriate, and staff providing supports and services to the former residents, as applicable; except that data collected from staff shall be limited to objective and quantitative data.

c. The studies shall:

(1) contrast the data collected on former residents with a comparison group of individuals still residing in a developmental center or State psychiatric hospital, as applicable; and

(2) compare the data collected pursuant to subsection a. of this section for each former resident who was scheduled to make a transition into the community as a result of a closure, prior to and after the resident has been in the community.

d. The studies shall examine, at a minimum, data concerning:

(1) the types of residential settings, day activities, if any, and transportation services available for day activities, as applicable, of former residents;

(2) the number of transfers to other State developmental centers or State psychiatric hospitals, as applicable;

(3) the number of moves to different placements, if any, experienced by former residents;

(4) for former residents who are residing in the community, their preference for residing in a State developmental center or State psychiatric hospital, as applicable, or the community based on a comparison of former residents' experience in a State developmental center or State psychiatric hospital, as applicable,and the community;

(5) the ability of former residents to maintain the same level of services and supports provided prior to a transition into the community;

(6) former residents' involvement with law enforcement personnel, if any;

(7) mortality rates of former residents;

(8) former residents' competency in the areas of cognition, self-care, and mobility;

(9) former residents' contact with family members or guardians, as appropriate, and peers;

(10) behavioral, medical, or excessive weight changes in former residents;

(11) utilization and accessibility of health services by former residents;

(12) the staff to resident ratio of former residents residing in community placements; and

(13) the attitude of former residents and their family members or guardians, as appropriate, about the former residents' current quality of life, including, but not limited to, economic well-being, productivity, and personal safety and health.

e. In the case of former residents in developmental centers receiving guardianship services, the studies shall indicate whether they are receiving these services from the Bureau of Guardianship Services in the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services or from family members or other interested persons appointed as guardians.

L.2015, c.197, s.1.