Codifying the mental health intervention team program administered by the Kansas department for aging and disability services in state statute.
Impact
The legislation aims to significantly expand mental health resources available to students, with specific initiatives designed to improve accessibility and reduce barriers families experience when seeking help. It addresses the scarcity of qualified personnel in school districts, proposing collaborative efforts to streamline service provision. Staff such as behavior liaisons, case managers, and therapists from partnering mental health facilities will work directly with schools to identify and support students in need. This approach could enhance mental health outcomes for the student population by fostering consistent support through the school year and beyond.
Summary
House Bill 2669 establishes the Mental Health Intervention Team Program in Kansas, codifying a program initially initiated as a pilot in 2018. The act focuses on facilitating access to behavioral health services for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. It requires the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services to oversee the implementation of this initiative, as well as to create structures that foster partnerships between community mental health centers and school districts. The goal of this program is to develop a coherent support system that alleviates the mental health service shortages faced by many students, especially in rural areas.
Contention
During discussions surrounding HB 2669, proponents emphasize the necessity of mental health interventions to address growing concerns about student well-being. Opposition may arise due to concerns about resource allocation, especially in terms of funding availability for rural districts, or fears that the program might not be comprehensively implemented across all school districts. The legislation mandates detailed reporting and tracking of the program's effectiveness, which critics argue may not be sufficient without guaranteed funding to support surrounding infrastructure. These factors reflect broader national conversations about how best to provide mental health support in educational settings.
Establishing the mental health intervention team program in the Kansas department for aging and disability services in state statute and providing incentives for coordination between school districts, qualified schools and mental health intervention team providers.
Abolishing the department of corrections alcohol and drug abuse treatment fund, creating the Kansas department for aging and disability services alcohol and drug abuse treatment fund and transferring the moneys and liabilities from such abolished fund to the Kansas department for aging and disability services alcohol and drug abuse treatment fund.
Establishes a core state behavioral health crisis services system, to be administered by the director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals.
Establishes a core state behavioral health crisis services system, to be administered by the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals.
Increasing transfers from the lottery operating fund, to the community crisis stabilization centers fund and the clubhouse model program fund of the Kansas department for aging and disability services.
Human services provisions modified on aging and disability services, behavioral health, licensing and program integrity, mental health licensing, background studies, and forecasted program appropriations adjustments; reports required; and money appropriated.
Requiring the secretary for aging and disability services to grant physical environment waivers for certain rural emergency hospitals to provide skilled nursing facility care and establishing the south central regional mental health hospital.
Requiring all applicants for teaching licenses and certificates and employees of a school district or public innovative district to submit to a criminal history record check and creating the criminal history record check reimbursement fund for certain state and criminal history record checks conducted by the Kansas department for aging and disability services.
Establishing the mental health intervention team program in the Kansas department for aging and disability services in state statute and providing incentives for coordination between school districts, qualified schools and mental health intervention team providers.