Arkansas Code
Subchapter 10 - Mental Health Services for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Bill of Rights Act
§ 20-47-1005. Statewide mental health services

The Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services of the Department of Human Services shall:
(1) Implement and maintain culturally affirmative mental health services and linguistically appropriate mental health services for any client in his or her primary communication method;
(2) Recruit, develop, and maintain an adequate number of certified mental health professionals and other licensed and nonlicensed ancillary staff qualified to work in settings where mental health services are provided to clients to ensure the delivery of culturally affirmative mental health services and linguistically appropriate mental health services one-on-one to any client in his or her primary communication method;
(3) Monitor all culturally affirmative mental health services and linguistically appropriate mental health services to ensure that clients of all ages are adequately served;
(4) Provide adequate supplemental funding to all culturally affirmative mental health services and linguistically appropriate mental health services and incentives for certified mental health professionals;
(5) Establish a certification process for mental health professionals who meet all standards and guidelines, as determined by the division, to provide culturally affirmative mental health services and linguistically appropriate mental health services to clients; and
(6) Develop and implement strategies for ensuring access to culturally affirmative mental health services and linguistically appropriate mental health services by clients in geographic areas where there is a lack or shortage of certified mental health professionals, including without limitation the authorization of treatment:
(A) In a different location by certified mental health professionals; or
(B) Through telemedicine or other remote technology that allows a client to be provided culturally affirmative mental health services and linguistically appropriate mental health services from certified mental health professionals.