Human Services committee moves to study gaps in care for children with severe behavioral health needs

The Human Services Committee discussed converting Senate Bill 1556 into a study overseen by the Children's Cabinet to address placement and service gaps for children with serious behavioral health problems who also have criminal charges or juvenile-court involvement.

Committee chair Senator Lee opened the discussion by asking whether members were ready to consider bill 1556 as a study. Senator Hogan, who led the conversation, said the bill “generated a lot of discussion” and that he was working with the Department of Health and Human Services and other parties “to draft converting this into a study initiative.” Hogan added that he planned to transfer the study responsibility to the Children's Cabinet and meet with the governor's office and the cabinet chair to seek a facilitator and scope for the work.

Why it matters: committee members and zone officials described immediate placement shortages for children with high-risk behaviors and said the current system can discharge youth from high-level programs without an alternative placement. Kim…