SECTIONS 5878.1-5878.3 - California Statutes

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

SECTION 5878.1-5878.3

5878.1. (a) It is the intent of this article to establish programs
that assure services will be provided to severely mentally ill
children as defined in Section 5878.2 and that they be part of the
children's system of care established pursuant to this part. It is
the intent of this act that services provided under this chapter to
severely mentally ill children are accountable, developed in
partnership with youth and their families, culturally competent, and
individualized to the strengths and needs of each child and their
family.
(b) Nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize any
services to be provided to a minor without the consent of the child's
parent or legal guardian beyond those already authorized by existing
statute.

5878.2. For purposes of this article, severely mentally ill
children means minors under the age of 18 who meet the criteria set
forth in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3.

5878.3. (a) Subject to the availability of funds as determined
pursuant to Part 4.5 (commencing with Section 5890) of this division,
county mental health programs shall offer services to severely
mentally ill children for whom services under any other public or
private insurance or other mental health or entitlement program is
inadequate or unavailable. Other entitlement programs include but are
not limited to mental health services available pursuant to
Medi-Cal, child welfare, and special education programs. The funding
shall cover only those portions of care that cannot be paid for with
public or private insurance, other mental health funds or other
entitlement programs.
(b) Funding shall be at sufficient levels to ensure that counties
can provide each child served all of the necessary services set forth
in the applicable treatment plan developed in accordance with this
part, including services where appropriate and necessary to prevent
an out of home placement, such as services pursuant to Chapter 4
(commencing with Section 18250) of Part 6 of Division 9.
(c) The State Department of Mental Health shall contract with
county mental health programs for the provision of services under
this article in the manner set forth in Section 5897.