Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Interagency Children's Behavioral Health Services Act and requires the state to establish a Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Officer to make it easier for families to access mental health services.

Highlights:

• Establishes that the state will track data related to Illinois healthcare providers contracting out the mental health, substance abuse, and Developmental disability services in regards to several metrics like staffing, capacity, and occupancy data (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes temporary emergency placements for youth in crises as determined by community based youth service provider grants (Sec. 2).

• Requires that youth based emergency placements must be done in accordance with DHS and regional needs (Sec. 2).

• Extends youth emergency placements to homeless shelters and wayward youth homes 

• Community-based youth services will have the sole authority to place youth in host homes (Sec. 2).

• Requires that Crisis youths shall have priority in temporary emergency placements (Sec. 3).

• Increases additional placement options with permissions of the youth’s parent or guardian (Sec. 3).

• Establishes that while in the temporary shelter the organization will work with the parent or guardian to organize a timely return home or a placement in a long term living arrangement (Sec. 4). 

• Expands the selection of  individuals from the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database to include those who have received services through the children and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities-Support waiver (Sec. 4). 

• Requires the state board of education to do a report on recommendations for mental health screenings in state-wide public schools and release a report on said screenings in K–12 (Sec. 5). 

• Requires that if a student is released from a special education facility or program that the parents or guardians are to attend an IEP meeting along with members of the contracting school district, and a representative from the state board of education no later than 20 days before termination of the service (Sec. 5).

• Requires the community and residence support authority to act as the following (Sec. 5): 

• Serve as a parent/guardian navigator program that works with other agencies to help best help youths with behavioral health concerns; 

• To work in collaboration with the IT program to better establish communication and collaboration interagency-wise;

• To submit to the governor a master plan on parent/guardian assistance program; and 

• To submit a report every 1st of the year.

• Requires Illinois DHS, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Child and Family service, the state board of education, managed care organizations, healthcare providers, and clinical experts to provide input on data sets regarding improving care coordination and risk management for patients (Sec. 6). 

• Requires that no minor be kept in an emergency temporary living arrangement for more than 21 days unless the last day falls on the weekend or a state holiday (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text