Arkansas Code
Subchapter 5 - Child and Adolescent Service System Program
§ 20-47-508. Evaluation and treatment

(a) Children suspected of having emotional disturbances who are referred for Child and Adolescent Service System Program services shall be given a screening and assessment through the single point of entry, after which an initial interagency service plan shall be defined and developed.
(b) The community mental health centers are hereby designated as the single point of entry.
(c) The assessment shall be conducted by the community mental health center serving the area in which the child or adolescent lives.
(d) The community mental health center shall be accessible on a twenty-four-hour basis, shall accept referrals from multiple sources, have interagency linkages, involve parents, ensure immediate access to crisis intervention services, and have authority to seek needed services.
(e) If after screening and assessment or collaborative evaluations it is determined that a child with emotional disturbance needs multiagency services, then initial and subsequent individualized multiagency service plans for the child and the child's family shall be jointly developed by the appropriate local or regional representatives of the community mental health centers, of the Department of Human Services county office, of the Department of Health, of the Special Education Unit of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, of the local school district, and of any other service provider identified to meet the needs of the child and his or her family. The individualized service plan shall reflect an integrated service delivery that specifies services or programs with funding to be provided by each agency. The service plan shall also designate responsibility for case management.

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