- Introduced -

SB 685 - This act requires the Department of Mental Health to develop and administer a comprehensive children's mental health service system. The system will:

- Be child-centered, family-focused and family driven, with the needs of the child and the family dictating the types of services provided;

- Provide community-based mental health services to children and their families;

- Respond in a culturally competent and responsive manner;

- Focus on stress prevention, early identification and intervention;

- Assure access to a continuum of services;

- Include early screening and intervention services;

- Address problems with paying for mental health services;

- Assure a smooth transition from mental health services for children to mental health services for persons 19 and older.

Mental health services must be included for Medicaid if the services are provided by an eligible system of a care provider. The Department of Mental Health, in collaboration with the Division of Medical Services, must establish by rule the definition and criteria for the designation of a community-based service.

The Department of Social Services must conduct research into all child custody cases to determine which cases only need mental health services. The Division of Family Services must apply for federal waivers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in order to provide services to children.

This act is identical to HB 459 (2003).

LORIE TOWE