(a)Pursuant to this section and W.S. 25-1-105(f) and (g),
the department of health shall collaborate with the department
of corrections to reduce recidivism rates for persons with
behavioral health needs and substance use disorders who are
involved in the criminal justice system and improve mental
health and substance use disorder programming by:
(i)Creating a behavioral health services enhancement
program for community providers to improve outcomes for persons
involved in the criminal justice system through a separate
contract, or in a separate provision in an existing contract,
administered by the department of health;
(ii)Adopting standardized, evidence based treatment
practices and guidelines for treating and providing programming
to persons involved in the criminal justice system w
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(a) Pursuant to this section and W.S. 25-1-105(f) and (g),
the department of health shall collaborate with the department
of corrections to reduce recidivism rates for persons with
behavioral health needs and substance use disorders who are
involved in the criminal justice system and improve mental
health and substance use disorder programming by:
(i) Creating a behavioral health services enhancement
program for community providers to improve outcomes for persons
involved in the criminal justice system through a separate
contract, or in a separate provision in an existing contract,
administered by the department of health;
(ii) Adopting standardized, evidence based treatment
practices and guidelines for treating and providing programming
to persons involved in the criminal justice system with
behavioral health and substance use needs;
(iii) Increasing communication between the department
of health, the department of corrections and contracted
behavioral health providers working with persons involved in the
criminal justice system;
(iv) Promoting and requiring to the maximum extent
practical and permissible under applicable laws and regulations
the portability and universal recognition of mental health and
substance use disorder assessment tools and other assessment
tools that may be applicable to mental health and substance use
disorder treatment; and
(v) Creating a competitive and outcomes based funding
stream for behavioral health providers to:
(A) Expand existing services for criminal
justice involved populations;
(B) Improve the quality and availability of
services and programs;
(C) Train and develop the skills of providers
and stakeholders working with persons who have behavior health
needs and substance use disorders and who are involved in the
criminal justice system.
(b) This section shall not be interpreted to require the
creation or maintenance of any duplicate functions, services or
programs in the department of health and the department of
corrections, but shall be interpreted with W.S. 25-1-105(f) and
(g) to require coordination and collaboration between the
agencies to assure the creation and maintenance of independent
or coordinated functions, services and programs to meet the
goals of this section and W.S. 25-1-105(f) and (g).