AN ACT CONCERNING THE TRANSITION OF CARE AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE TRANSITION OF CARE AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES.

Beginning July 1, 2010, this bill requires the departments of Children and Families (DCF) and Mental Health and Addiction Servcies (DHMAS) commissioners, within existing budgetary resources, to issue joint annual reports on transition activities for children under DCF care who are likely to need mental health or substance abuse services from DHMAS when they age out of DCF care. In most cases, this occurs when they reach 18.

The reports must be submitted to the Appropriations, Children's, and Human Services committees and the Community Mental Health Strategy Board.

In addition to containing a detailed description of the transition process, the DCF and DMHAS joint annual transition reports must include the following information about children age 14 and older in DCF care:

1. how many may need DHMAS services and the types of services they are likely to need until they reach age 22,

2. diagnostic and behavioral issues related to DCF's reason for a potential DHMAS referral,

3. identified permanency plans, and

4. anticipated impact on DCF and DHMAS budgets for the two years following the date the report is issued.

Characteristics of DCF Children Age 16 and Older Likely to Need DHMAS Services

The bill requires reports to contain other information about youth in DCF care who are age 16 and older and identified as potential DHMAS clients. The information is:

1. the average length of time between (a) the youth's 16^th birthday and DCF's referral to DMHAS, (b) DCF's referral and DMHAS' acceptance of the referral, and (c) the referral and completion of a written transition plan that describes the strengths and service needs for transitioning the youth to DMHAS;

2. how many are in discharge delay status in residential treatment or psychiatric hospitals (i. e. , are on waiting lists for services in less restrictive settings);

3. placement settings and identified permanency plans; and

4. how many have been adjudicated delinquent, arrested as adults, and incarcerated in a Department of Correction facility, including the average length of incarceration.

Reports must also include the number of youth DCF referred to DMHAS who were denied services and the reasons for the denials. For youths whose referrals DHMAS accepted, they must include:

1. the average length of time between the youth's 18^th birthday and placement in a clinically appropriate level of care;

2. how many youth are receiving services through DMHAS' Young Adult Services Division, how many are being served in other DMHAS divisions, and the services provided;

3. how many youth refuse, withdraw, or are discharged from services, along with the average length of time between DMHAS' acceptance and the youth's refusal, withdrawal, or discharge; and

4. how many have been arrested or incarcerated before their 21^st birthday.

The bill directs the DCF and DMHAS commissioners to jointly review and include in reports barriers to:

1. making DMHAS referrals within 30 days after a potential client's 16^th birthday,

2. completing eligibility determinations within 30 days of the referral,

3. developing appropriate transition plans within 30 days after DMHAS' acceptance of the client,

4. providing clinically appropriate services to youth in DCF care who may later be referred to DHMAS, and

5. providing clinically appropriate services to young adults when they transition to DMHAS.

The House referred the bill (File 440) to the Appropriations Committee, which reported a substitute requiring the DCF and DHMAS commissioners to issue the joint annual reports within existing budgetary resources, rather than within available appropriations.

Yea

Nay

(03/17/2009)

Yea

Nay

(04/13/2009)

Yea

Nay

(04/27/2009)