122C-170. Local Consumer and Family Advisory Committees.

(a) Area authorities and county programs shall establish committees made up of consumers and family members to be known as Consumer and Family Advisory Committees (CFACS). A local CFAC shall be a self-governing and a self-directed organization that advises the area authority or county program in its catchment area on the planning and management of the local public mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services system.

Each CFAC shall adopt bylaws to govern the selection and appointment of its members, their terms of service, the number of members, and other procedural matters. At the request of either the CFAC or the governing board of the area authority or county program, the CFAC and the governing board shall execute an agreement that identifies the roles and responsibilities of each party, channels of communication between the parties, and a process for resolving disputes between the parties.

(b) Each of the disability groups shall be equally represented on the CFAC, and the CFAC shall reflect as closely as possible the racial and ethnic composition of the catchment area. The terms of members shall be three years, and no member may serve more than three consecutive terms. The CFAC shall be composed exclusively of:

(1) Adult consumers of mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services.

(2) Family members of consumers of mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services.

(c) The CFAC shall undertake all of the following:

(1) Review, comment on, and monitor the implementation of the local business plan.

(2) Identify service gaps and underserved populations.

(3) Make recommendations regarding the service array and monitor the development of additional services.

(4) Review and comment on the area authority or county program budget.

(5) Participate in all quality improvement measures and performance indicators.

(6) Submit to the State Consumer and Family Advisory Committee findings and recommendations regarding ways to improve the delivery of mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services.

(d) The director of the area authority or county program shall provide sufficient staff to assist the CFAC in implementing its duties under subsection (c) of this section. The assistance shall include data for the identification of service gaps and underserved populations, training to review and comment on business plans and budgets, procedures to allow participation in quality monitoring, and technical advice on rules of procedure and applicable laws.