(a) The Research and Training Institute is authorized to seek, accept, and administer public or private funds, consisting of donations, federal and state grants, aids, contracts, reimbursements, cash donations, or state general revenue to accomplish its purposes. The institute is intended to:
(1) Promote recruitment and retention of highly qualified professionals at programs operated or certified by the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services, community mental health center programs, and other public sector mental health programs in Arkansas;
(2) Improve clinical care by exploring new, innovative, and scientifically based treatment models for adults with serious mental illness and children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance;
(3) Provide expanded clinical research and clinical-based research training opportunities for existing staff in institutional and community-based programs operated, certified, or supported by the division; and
(4) Promote the understanding of the various interdisciplinary treatments and the challenges facing institutional and community-based mental health professionals in Arkansas.
(b) To accomplish these purposes, the institute may enter into joint operating agreements with state universities or other institutions of higher education to:
(1) Accomplish the placement and training of students and faculty in psychiatry, psychology, social work, occupational therapy, nursing, and other relevant professions;
(2) Design, support, and implement clinical research projects to improve the quality and effectiveness of mental health services and operations;
(3) Enter into agreements with community mental health centers and other public mental health providers to accomplish the exchange of professional staff between state-operated programs and community mental health centers; and
(4) Establish a student loan program in accordance with procedures established by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, when the Director of the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services has determined a shortage of such professionals exists.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the institute may enter into agreements with the division which may involve changes in staffing necessary to implement improved patient care programs contemplated by this section, and may enter into agreements with the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to jointly operate or to support specific undertakings that are congruent with the institute's stated purposes.
Structure Arkansas Code
Chapter 10 - Department of Human Services
Subchapter 1 - General Provisions
§ 25-10-102. Organization generally
§ 25-10-104. Developmental disabilities services — Board of Developmental Disabilities Services
§ 25-10-106. Division heads and other personnel
§ 25-10-107. Reports by divisions
§ 25-10-108. Coordination of programs, procedures, etc., of department and institutional boards
§ 25-10-109. Institutional services generally — Development of admission policies, etc
§ 25-10-110. Institutional services generally — Charges
§ 25-10-111. Budgeting generally
§ 25-10-113. Disposition of direct services funds
§ 25-10-114. Developmental disabilities — Special authorization — Cash funds
§ 25-10-115. County offices of human services
§ 25-10-116. Advisory committees generally
§ 25-10-118. Child support enforcement program — Reports
§ 25-10-119. Certification of vouchers
§ 25-10-120. Research and Training Institute
§ 25-10-121. Proceeds from the sale of land — Deposit in special trust fund
§ 25-10-122. Office of Minority Mental Health — Creation
§ 25-10-123. Programs and policies — Development
§ 25-10-124. Administration of state or federal funds
§ 25-10-126. Grants-in-aid — Conditions for receiving funds
§ 25-10-127. Advance disbursements
§ 25-10-130. Employee assistance programs — Prohibition of agreement for services
§ 25-10-132. Medical services and county operations — Use of local funds
§ 25-10-133. Mental health services — Transfer provision
§ 25-10-134. Community-based residential programs — Rules
§ 25-10-136. Private service contract notice required
§ 25-10-137. Private service contract performance evaluation requirement
§ 25-10-138. Education requirements for certain Division of Youth Services employees
§ 25-10-139. Training requirements for certain Division of Youth Services employees
§ 25-10-141. Subpoenas in administrative adjudications
§ 25-10-143. Advisory opinions — Definition
§ 25-10-144. Governor's Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism — Creation