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Senator Barnett presses committee on mental-health capacity; chair points to DYS funding and Oakley upgrades
Summary
Senator Barnett raised concerns that youths with mental-health needs may be housed inappropriately and urged funding for mental-health placements; chair said the package includes funding for diversion, DYS ($9 million referenced), and Oakley upgrades and that the bill creates assessments and mental-health-directed diversion.
Senator Barnett told the committee he was concerned that inadequate mental-health capacity forces children into facilities that are not appropriate. He asked whether the bill or the appropriation package provided funding for mental-health placements so youth would not be held in places unsuited to their needs. "I don't want this bill to further fail our youth now and to continue to flood our correction facility," Barnett said, pressing the committee to prioritize mental-health solutions.
Chair responded that the governor's appropriation package attaches funds for diversion and DYS programs, and he cited a DYS request of roughly $9,000,000 in the package to fund assessments and programming. Chair also said Oakley would receive upgrades to handle post-adjudication needs and that the bill includes provisions to ensure youth receive required assessments and services under federal law.
