IMHPAC Guidelines

The State will establish and maintain a State mental health planning council in accordance with the conditions described in this section.

The duties of the Council are:

  1. To review plans provided to the Council pursuant to section 1915(a) by the State involved and to submit to the State any recommendations of the Council for modifications to the plans;
  2. To serve as an advocate for adults with a serious mental illness, children with a severe emotional disturbance, and other individuals with mental illness or emotional problems; and
  3. To monitor, review, and evaluate, not less than once each year, the allocation and adequacy of mental health services within the State.
    A condition for a Council is that the Council is to be composed of residents of the State, including representatives of:
    1. The principle State agencies with respect to:
      1. Mental health, education, vocational rehabilitation, criminal justice, housing, and social services; and
      2. The development of the plan submitted pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act;
    2. Public and private entities concerned with the need, planning, operation, funding, and use of mental health services and related support services;
    3. Adults with serious mental illnesses who are receiving (or have received) mental health services; and
    4. The families of such adults or families of children with emotional disturbance. Another condition for a Council is that:
      1. With respect to the membership of the Council, the ratio of parents of children with a serious emotional disturbance to other members of the Council is sufficient to provide adequate representation of such children in the deliberations of the Council; and
      2. Not less than 50 percent of the members of the Council are individuals who are not state employees or providers of mental health services.

Council Requirements:

Training Requirements:

Council Members are required to attend Ethics and Discrimination/Harassment training provided through DHS Appointee Training. There are no other current training requirements.

Reporting Requirements:

The Council is required to review and comment on the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant Plans and Annual Reports when these are submitted to SAMHSA. (See Above)