Section 245.487 Citation; Declaration of Policy; Mission
245.487 CITATION; DECLARATION OF POLICY; MISSION.
Subdivision 1.Citation.
Sections 245.487 to 245.4889 may be cited as the "Minnesota Comprehensive Children's Mental Health Act."
Subd. 2.Findings.
The legislature finds there is a need for further development of existing clinical services for emotionally disturbed children and their families and the creation of new services for this population. Although the services specified in sections 245.487 to 245.4889 are mental health services, sections 245.487 to 245.4889 emphasize the need for a child-oriented and family-oriented approach of therapeutic programming and the need for continuity of care with other community agencies. At the same time, sections 245.487 to 245.4889 emphasize the importance of developing special mental health expertise in children's mental health services because of the unique needs of this population.
Nothing in sections 245.487 to 245.4889 shall be construed to abridge the authority of the court to make dispositions under chapter 260, but the mental health services due any child with serious and persistent mental illness, as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 20, or with severe emotional disturbance, as defined in section 245.4871, subdivision 6, shall be made a part of any disposition affecting that child.
Subd. 3.Mission of children's mental health service system.
As part of the comprehensive children's mental health system established under sections 245.487 to 245.4889, the commissioner of human services shall create and ensure a unified, accountable, comprehensive children's mental health service system that is consistent with the provision of public social services for children and that:
(1) identifies children who are eligible for mental health services;
(2) makes preventive services available to all children;
(3) assures access to a continuum of services that:
(i) educate the community about the mental health needs of children;
(ii) address the unique physical, emotional, social, and educational needs of children;
(iii) are coordinated with the range of social and human services provided to children and their families by the Departments of Education, Human Services, Health, and Corrections;
(iv) are appropriate to the developmental needs of children; and
(v) are sensitive to cultural differences and special needs;
(4) includes early screening and prompt intervention to:
(i) identify and treat the mental health needs of children in the least restrictive setting appropriate to their needs; and
(ii) prevent further deterioration;
(5) provides mental health services to children and their families in the context in which the children live and go to school;
(6) addresses the unique problems of paying for mental health services for children, including:
(i) access to private insurance coverage; and
(ii) public funding;
(7) includes the child and the child's family in planning the child's program of mental health services, unless clinically inappropriate to the child's needs; and
(8) when necessary, assures a smooth transition from mental health services appropriate for a child to mental health services needed by a person who is at least 18 years of age.
Subd. 4.Implementation.
(a) The commissioner shall begin implementing sections 245.487 to 245.4889 by February 15, 1990, and shall fully implement sections 245.487 to 245.4889 by July 1, 1993.
(b) Annually until February 15, 1994, the commissioner shall report to the legislature on all steps taken and recommendations for full implementation of sections 245.487 to 245.4889 and on additional resources needed to further implement those sections. The report shall include information on county and state progress in identifying the needs of cultural and racial minorities and in using special mental health consultants to meet these needs.
Subd. 5.Continuation of existing mental health services for children.
Counties shall make available case management, community support services, and day treatment to children eligible to receive these services under sections 245.4881 and 245.4884. No later than August 1, 1989, the county board shall notify providers in the local system of care of their obligations to refer children eligible for case management and community support services as of January 1, 1989. The county board shall forward a copy of this notice to the commissioner. The notice shall indicate which children are eligible, a description of the services, and the name of the county employee designated to coordinate case management activities and shall include a copy of the plain language notification described in section 245.4881, subdivision 2, paragraph (b). Providers shall distribute copies of this notification when making a referral for case management.
Subd. 6.Funding from the federal government and other sources.
The commissioner shall seek and apply for federal and other nonstate, nonlocal government funding for mental health services specified in sections 245.487 to 245.4889, in order to maximize nonstate, nonlocal dollars for these services.
History:
1989 c 282 art 4 s 37; 1990 c 568 art 5 s 9,10; 1991 c 199 art 2 s 1; 1991 c 292 art 6 s 11,12,58 subd 1; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 2003 c 130 s 12; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 11 s 11; 2007 c 147 art 8 s 38