§ 37-3-112 — Plan for a statewide system of care - Principles of care - Resource map and cost analysis

(a) The council shall develop a plan for a statewide system of care where children's mental health care is child-centered, family-driven, and culturally and linguistically competent and that provides a coordinated system of care for children's mental health needs in this state. (b) The plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide for a service delivery system operated in a manner that provides the following principles of care: (1) Children with mental health needs should have access to a comprehensive array of services that address the child's physical, emotional, social and educational needs; (2) Children with mental health needs should receive individualized services in accordance with the unique needs and potentials of each child and guided by an individualized service plan; (3) Children with mental health needs should receive services within the least restrictive, most normative environment that is therapeutically appropriate; (4) The families of children with mental health needs should be full participants in all aspects of the planning and delivery of services; (5) Children with mental health needs should receive services that are integrated, with linkages between child-serving agencies and programs and mechanisms for planning, developing and coordinating the services; (6) Children with mental health needs should be provided with case management or similar mechanisms to ensure that multiple services are delivered in a coordinated, integrated and therapeutic manner and that each child can move through the system of services in accordance with their changing needs; (7) Early identification and intervention for children with mental health needs should be promoted by the system of care in order to enhance the likelihood of positive outcomes; (8) Children with mental health needs whose needs continue beyond adolescence should be ensured smooth transitions to the adult service system as each child reaches adulthood; (9) The rights of children with mental health needs should be protected; and (10) Children with mental health needs have access to services without regard to race, religion, national origin, sex, physical disability or other characteristics. Services should be sensitive and responsive to cultural differences and special needs. (c) The plan shall include a core set of services and supports that appropriately and effectively addresses the mental health needs of children and families. (d) The council, to guide and support the plan, shall also develop a financial resource map and cost analysis of all federal and state funded programs that support and serve children's mental health needs in this state. The council shall assure the financial resource map and cost analysis are updated annually so as to maintain a current cost analysis of the funds used to support children's mental health care needs in the state from conception through the age of majority or so long as the child receives services provided by these funding streams. The resource map and cost analysis shall include, but not be limited to: (1) An inventory of all federal and state funding sources that support children's mental health needs in this state; (2) A description of the manner in which the funds are being used within the agencies or organizations, the performance measures in place to assess the use of the funding and the intended outcomes of the programs and services; (3) Government mandates for the use of such funds, if any; and (4) An inventory of the funds for which the state may be eligible, but is currently not receiving or using, and the reasons why the funds are not being used.

Legislative History

Acts 2008, ch. 1062, § 1.