Legislative Enhancements to Behavioral Health

Recent Legislation Behavioral Health Enhancements HB 7019/SB 7068 (2015) SB 12/HB 7097 (2016) Housing Assistance HB 379/SB 1500, (2015) SB 1534/HB 1235, (2016)

SB 12 Addresses the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services and identifies a coordinated system of care. Requires DCF to conduct a community needs assessment every 3 yrs. to determine optimal array of services and managing entities to annually submit plan to enhance services addressing 3-5 priority needs.

 (c) That services provided to persons in this state use the coordination-of-care principles characteristic of recovery-oriented services and include social support services, such as housing support, life skills and vocational training, and employment assistance, necessary for persons with mental health disorders and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders to live successfully in their communities.  (5) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish expectations that services provided to persons in this state use the coordination-of-care principles characteristic of recovery-oriented services and include social support services, such as housing support, life skills and vocational training, and employment assistance necessary for persons who have substance use disorders or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders to live successfully in their communities. Legislative Intent Coordination of Care Principles, Recovery-oriented services that includes: Housing Support

 Coordinated system of care ; annual assessment; essential elements Continuity of care management system; measures of performance; system improvement grants; reports  (2) The essential elements of a coordinated system of care include :  (l) Recovery support, including, but not limited to, support for competitive employment, educational attainment, independent living skills development, family support and education, wellness management and self-care, and assistance in obtaining housing that meets the individual’s needs. Such housing may include mental health residential treatment facilities, limited mental health assisted living facilities, adult family care homes, and supportive housing. Housing provided using state funds must provide a safe and decent environment free from abuse and neglect.  (m) Care plans shall assign specific responsibility for initial and ongoing evaluation of the supervision and support needs of the individual and the identification of housing that meets such needs. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “supervision” means oversight of and assistance with compliance with the clinical aspects of an individual’s care plan. Coordinated System of Care: Essential Elements Assistance in Housing that meets the individual’s needs such as: MH residential, Limited MH ALFs, adult family care, and Supportive Housing

 Behavioral health managing entities.—  (1) INTENT AND PURPOSE.—  (a) The Legislature finds that untreated behavioral health disorders constitute major health problems for residents of this state, are a major economic burden to the citizens of this state, and substantially increase demands on the state’s juvenile and adult criminal justice systems, the child welfare system, and health care systems. The Legislature finds that behavioral health disorders respond to appropriate treatment, rehabilitation, and supportive intervention. The Legislature finds that local communities have also made substantial investments in behavioral health services, contracting with safety net providers who by mandate and mission provide specialized services to vulnerable and hard-to-serve populations and have strong ties to local public health and public safety agencies. The Legislature finds that a regional management structure that facilitates a comprehensive and cohesive system of coordinated care for behavioral health treatment and prevention services will improve access to care, promote service continuity, and provide for more efficient and effective delivery of substance abuse and mental health services. It is the intent of the Legislature that managing entities work to create linkages among various services and systems, including juvenile justice and adult criminal justice, child welfare, housing services, homeless systems of care, and health care. Managing Entities: Legislative Intent Create linkages across services and systems including Housing Services

 Behavioral health managing entities.—  (5) MANAGING ENTITY DUTIES.—  (l) Work collaboratively with public receiving facilities and licensed housing providers to establish a network of licensed housing resources for mental health consumers that will prevent and reduce readmissions to public receiving facilities.  (7) PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY  (d) The success of strategies to:  3. Address the housing needs of individuals being released from public receiving facilities who are homeless. Managing Entities: Duties and Performance Measures Establish a Network of Licensed Housing Resources for MH Consumers Address Housing Needs of individuals released from receiving facilities who are homeless