Arkansas Code
Subchapter 2 - Commitment and Treatment
§ 20-47-201. Purpose — Policy

(a) The purpose of this subchapter is to enable the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services of the Department of Human Services to assist in:
(1) Establishing, maintaining, and coordinating a comprehensive and effective system of services for persons with mental illness, disease, or disorder who may be voluntarily or involuntarily admitted to mental health facilities and programs within the state;
(2) Reducing the occurrence, severity, and duration of mental disabilities; and
(3) Preventing persons with mental illness from harming themselves or others.

(b) It is the policy of this state to provide access for persons with severe mental illness to appropriate, adequate, and humane care which, to the extent possible while meeting the purposes of rehabilitation and treatment, is:
(1) Within each person's own geographic area of residence;
(2) Least restrictive of the person's freedom of movement and ability to function normally in society, while being appropriate to the individual's capacity and promoting the person's independence; and
(3) Directed toward assuring movement through all treatment components to assure continuity of care.

(c) It is the policy of this state to maintain involuntary admission laws to ensure that mental illness, disease, or disorder in and of itself is insufficient to involuntarily admit any person into the mental health services system.

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