53-21-1002. Duties of department. The department:
     (1) shall take cognizance of matters affecting the mental health of the citizens of the state;
     (2) shall initiate mental health care and treatment, prevention, and research as can best be accomplished by community-centered services. The department shall initiate and operate services in cooperation with local agencies, service area authorities, mental health professionals, and other entities providing services to persons with mental illness.
     (3) shall specifically address:
     (a) provider contracting;
     (b) service planning;
     (c) preadmission screening and discharge planning;
     (d) quality management;
     (e) utilization management and review;
     (f) consumer and family education; and
     (g) rights protection;
     (4) shall collect and disseminate information relating to mental health;
     (5) shall prepare and maintain a comprehensive plan to develop public mental health services in the state and to establish service areas;
     (6) must receive from agencies of the United States and other state agencies, persons or groups of persons, associations, firms, or corporations grants of money, receipts from fees, gifts, supplies, materials, and contributions for the development of mental health services within the state;
     (7) shall establish qualified provider certification standards by rule, which may include requirements for national accreditation for mental health programs that receive funds from the department;
     (8) shall perform an annual review and evaluation of mental health needs and services within the state by region and evaluate the performance of programs that receive funds from the department for compliance with federal and state standards;
     (9) shall coordinate state and community resources to ensure comprehensive delivery of services to children with emotional disturbances and submit at least a biennial report to the governor and the legislature concerning the activities and recommendations of the department and service providers; and
     (10) shall coordinate the establishment of service area authorities, as provided in 53-21-1006, to assist the department in the coordination and delivery of mental health services.

     History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 602, L. 2003.