Arkansas Code
Subchapter 5 - Child and Adolescent Service System Program
§ 20-47-506. Regional Child and Adolescent Service System Program Coordinating Council planning teams

(a) A regional Child and Adolescent Service System Program planning team shall be established in each community mental health center catchment area.
(b)
(1) Each team shall include individuals who are not state employees and who are not providers of services to children with emotional disturbances or their families but who are parents, parent surrogates, family members, or consumers.
(2) Every effort shall be made to encourage and assist parents, parent surrogates, family members, consumers, and advocates to participate in program planning teams.

(c) The regional program planning teams shall include agency representatives from the community mental health centers, the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services of the Department of Human Services, the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, the local school districts or education service cooperatives, and any willing provider.
(d) Additional representatives of other local services and programs shall be added by the regional team and will include representatives from the juvenile justice system or youth services providers and local preschool programs, if possible.
(e) Each regional team member may appoint a single person to serve as his or her proxy.
(f) The regional program planning team shall:
(1) Advise and report to the Child and Adolescent Service System Program Coordinating Council on matters of policies, resources, programs, and services relating to children with emotional disturbances and their families;
(2) Identify and recommend program initiatives and revisions based on area and community-based needs;
(3) Submit a regional plan and guidelines for interagency service delivery teams to the council on or before February 15 of each even-numbered year preceding the legislative session;
(4) Develop and implement special projects for community-based services; and
(5)
(A) Ensure that interagency service teams are established and utilized in coordinating services for children and adolescents referred to the program.
(B) Each service delivery team shall have sufficient and appropriate representation from identified service providers and will complete a multiagency plan of services for each child or adolescent receiving program services.
(C) Each member of the service delivery teams shall share information, evaluations, and data necessary to produce an effective, individualized multiagency plan of services.
(D) Every effort shall be made to assist parents, parent surrogates, family members, and consumers to participate as members of the interagency service delivery team.