1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; authorizing a Regional Children's Mental Health Initiative 
1.3 	pilot project; developing an enhanced regional children's mental health service 
1.4 	system; appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. REGIONAL CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Pilot project authorized; purpose. A two-year Regional Children's 
1.8 	Mental Health Initiative pilot project is established to improve children's mental health 
1.9 	service coordination, communication, and processes in Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, 
1.10 	Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Rice, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan Counties. The 
1.11 	purpose of the Regional Children's Mental Health Initiative will be to plan and develop 
1.12 	new programs and services related to children's mental health in South Central Minnesota.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Goals. To accomplish its purpose, the Regional Children's Mental Health 
1.14 	Initiative shall have the following goals:
1.15 	(1) work to streamline delivery and regional access to services;
1.16 	(2) share strategies and resources for the management of out-of-home placements;
1.17 	(3) establish standard protocols and operating procedures for functions that are 
1.18 	performed across all counties;
1.19 	(4) share information to improve resource allocation and service delivery across 
1.20 	counties;
1.21 	(5) evaluate outcomes of various treatment alternatives;
1.22 	(6) create a network for and provide support to service delivery groups;
1.23 	(7) establish a regional process to match children in need of out-of-home placement 
1.24 	with foster homes that can meet their needs; and
2.1 	(8) recruit and retain foster homes.
2.2 		Subd. 3.Director's Council. The Director's Council shall govern the operations of 
2.3 	the Regional Children's Mental Health Initiative. Members of the Director's Council shall 
2.4 	represent each of the 11 counties participating in the pilot project.
2.5 		Subd. 4.Regional Children's Mental Health Initiative Team. The members of the 
2.6 	Regional Children's Mental Health Initiative team shall conduct planning and development 
2.7 	of new and modified children's mental health programs and services in the region. 
2.8 	Members of the team shall reflect the cultural, demographic, and geographic diversity of 
2.9 	the region and shall be composed of representatives from each of the following:
2.10 	(1) the medical community;
2.11 	(2) human services;
2.12 	(3) corrections;
2.13 	(4) education;
2.14 	(5) mental health providers and vendors;
2.15 	(6) advocacy organizations;
2.16 	(7) parents; and
2.17 	(8) children and youth.
2.18 		Subd. 5.Authority. The Regional Children's Mental Health Initiative shall have the 
2.19 	authority to develop and implement the following programs:
2.20 	(1) Flexible funding payments. This program will make funds available to respond to 
2.21 	the unique and unpredictable needs of children with mental health issues such as the need 
2.22 	for prescription drugs, transportation, clothing, and assessments not otherwise available.
2.23 	(2) Transition to self-sufficiency. This program will help youths between the ages of 
2.24 	14 and 21 establish professional relationships, find jobs, build financial foundations, and 
2.25 	learn to fulfill their roles as productive citizens.
2.26 	(3) Crisis response. This program will establish public and private partnerships 
2.27 	to offer a range of options to meet the needs of children in crisis. Methods to meet 
2.28 	these needs may include accessible local services, holistic assessments, urgent care and 
2.29 	stabilization services, and telehealth for specialized diagnosis and therapeutic sessions.
2.30 	(4) Integrated services for complex conditions. This program will design, develop, 
2.31 	and implement packages of integrated services to meet the needs of children with specific, 
2.32 	complex conditions.
2.33 		Subd. 6.Evaluation and report. The Regional Children's Mental Health Initiative 
2.34 	shall develop a method for evaluating the effectiveness of this pilot project focusing on 
2.35 	identifiable goals and outcomes. An interim report on the pilot's effectiveness shall be 
2.36 	submitted to the house and senate finance committees having jurisdiction over mental 
3.1 	health, the commissioner of human services, and the Minnesota Association of County 
3.2 	Social Service Administrators no later than December 31, 2008. A final report is due 
3.3 	no later than December 31, 2009.

3.4 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 3.5 	$925,000 in fiscal year 2008 and $925,000 in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated 
3.6 	to the commissioner of human services to fund the Regional Children's Mental Health 
3.7 	Initiative pilot project.