SECTIONS 4097-4097.3 - California Statutes

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

SECTION 4097-4097.3

4097. There is hereby established, under the administration of the
State Department of Mental Health, an Early Intervention Mental
Health Program. This program shall provide services to infants and
toddlers, from birth to three years of age, and their families. To
the extent funding is available through the annual Budget Act, and
professional collaborative relationships have been established, the
program may be expanded beyond the 1999-2000 pilot project focus on
children who have been diagnosed with a developmental disability or
delay or who are at risk of a developmental disability or delay.

4097.1. Up to three million dollars ($3,000,000) may be allocated
on an annual basis for three years to the department for this
program. No more than 5 percent of these funds may be used for state
administrative costs.

4097.2. Program services shall be designed to facilitate a
relationship-based approach that promotes optimal social and
emotional development of the child in interactions between parent, or
primary caregiver and child, and shall include both prevention and
treatment aspects. A key component of the program shall include
training of, and technical assistance to, public and private agencies
that currently provide, or plan to provide, early intervention
mental health services.

4097.3. The program shall be formally evaluated by the department
and the results of the evaluation reported to the fiscal and policy
committees of the Legislature before any additional state funding is
authorized beyond June 30, 2003. The department shall provide interim
annual progress reports to the Legislature by March 1, 2001, and
2002, which shall include data on the progress of implementation and
findings to date.