1. (a) “Abuse” means an act or omission by an employee, consultant, or volunteer of a PSA which is not accidental and harms or threatens to harm a member’s or participant’s physical, mental or emotional health or safety and includes emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse.
2. (b) “Culturally competent” means having attained the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide effective supports, services, education, and technical assistance to populations in the geographic area served by the agency.
3. (c) “Department” means the New Hampshire department of health and human services.

4. (d) “Discrimination” means an action or a failure to act that has the effect of excluding a consumer from participation, subjecting a member to unequal treatment, or harassing a member because of and on the basis of:

   1. (1) Race;
   2. (2) Color;
   3. (3) Sex;
   4. (4) Sexual orientation;
   5. (5) Marital status;
   6. (6) Religion;
   7. (7) National origin;
   8. (8) Age;
   9. (9) Disability;
   10. (10) Socio-economic class;
   11. (11) Political ideology;
   12. (12) Veterans status; or
   13. (13) Gender identity.

5. (e) “Emotional abuse” means:

   1. (1) The misuse of power, authority, or both;
   2. (2) Verbal harassment; or
   3. (3) Unreasonable confinement that results or could result in mental anguish or emotional distress of a member.
6. (f) “Exploitation” means the use of a member’s or participant’s person or property for another’s profit or advantage or breach of a fiduciary relationship through improper use of a member’s person or property including situations where a person obtains money, property. or services from a member or participant through undue influence, harassment, deception, or fraud.
7. (g) “Guest” means any person who is invited to visit the PSA by a member, a participant, or the PSA.
8. (h) “Member” means any peer, who has made an informed decision to join, and agrees to support the goals, objectives, rights, and responsibilities of, the PSA.
9. (i) “Neglect” means an act or omission which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health of a member or participant.
10. (j) “Participant” means a peer, whether or not he or she is a member, who participates in any aspect of the PSA.
11. (k) “Peer” means any individual, 18 years of age or older, who self identifies as having lived experience as a former recipient, or as at significant risk of becoming a recipient of publicly funded mental health services.
12. (l) “Peer support agency (PSA)” means an organization whose primary purpose is to provide culturally competent peer support to peers 18 years of age or older.
13. (m) “Physical abuse” means the use of physical force which results or could result in physical injury to a member or participant.

Source. #8445, eff 10-6-05, EXPIRED: 10-6-13 New. #12191, eff 5-26-17