1. (a) The Family Service Worker will:

   1. (1) Refer all children three (3) years of age to eighteen (18) years of age to a CMHC for a mental health assessment and services as indicated, within five (5) days of their entry into foster care;
   2. (2) Refer children younger than three (3) years of age for mental health services when the need is identified by the physician, FSW, a foster parent, a legal/biological parent, or other involved party;
   3. (3) Refer children in foster care with urgent or emergent mental health needs immediately to a local CMHC;
   4. (4) Refer children in foster care for mental health services immediately, whenever a traumatic event occurs in the child’s life;
   5. (5) Obtain a PCP referral for outpatient mental health services;
   6. (6) Refer a child in foster care for mental health services anytime the FSW, foster parent, legal/biological parent, etc., deems appropriate;
   7. (7) Document the referral in the medical services screen in CHRIS;

   8. (8) Ensure that the referral to the CMHC is accompanied by the following at the time of the initial referral, or forwarded as soon as they become available:

      1. (A) Authorization for treatment;
      2. (B) A copy of the current court order;
      3. (C) A copy of the medical history; and
      4. (D) A copy of the case history information;
   9. (9) Follow the organization’s referral procedures and provide any additional required documentation;
   10. (10) Whenever possible, expedite access to appropriate documents from previous treatment to reduce delay in the authorization of services by the Division of Medical Services;

   11. (11) Ensure adequate and appropriate participation in the assessment process:

       1. (A) Attend, at a minimum, the first appointment with the child to sign consents and facilitate treatment and treatment planning; and
       2. (B) Ensure that the adults who have the most complete information about the child accompany the child to the assessment (e.g., foster parents, legal/biological parents), as appropriate;
   12. (12) Establish a schedule regarding dates for assessment and treatment sessions with the mental health provider;
   13. (13) Remain engaged in the treatment planning process and ongoing care;
   14. (14) Work with the CMHC therapist to ensure adequate and appropriate involvement by the foster parents, biological parents, etc., in the treatment process;

   15. (15)

       1. (A) Ensure that adequate information is provided to the physician regarding behaviors, response to medications, side effects, and any other information necessary for the physician to effectively manage medications.
       2. (B) It is the FSW’s responsibility to understand why medications are prescribed, the target symptoms the medications should impact, and both side effects and drug interactions as well as ensure that the foster parents, or responsible adult at the child’s current placement, understand these issues;

   16. (16)

       1. (A) Along with the foster parent, attend each appointment scheduled with the psychiatrist or physician, if possible.
       2. (B) When necessary, cancel appointments at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance, except in genuine emergency situations such as illness, and reschedule as soon as possible;
   17. (17) Review and sign all master treatment plans and updates; and
   18. (18) Document the child’s mental health services in the medical services screen in CHRIS.

2. (b) The Division of Children and Family Services can expect that the CMHC will:

   1. (1) Offer routine assessment of the child within five (5) working days from receipt of the Division of Children and Family Services referral, receipt of authorization for treatment, and a copy of the court order if applicable;
   2. (2) If a complete psychiatric evaluation is needed, complete the evaluation within forty-five (45) working days;
   3. (3) Evaluate, within two (2) hours, any client who has a psychiatric crisis or an outpatient mental health emergency (See 9 CAR § 40-102, definitions, for definitions) and offer triage/assessment by a mental health professional to the level deemed appropriate;
   4. (4) Make a copy of the emergency assessment available to the Division of Children and Family Services upon completion;
   5. (5) Provide immediate verbal feedback regarding the child’s mental health assessment to the FSW;
   6. (6) Provide a copy of the child’s written mental health assessment report to the FSW as soon as possible and in every case, within five (5) business days;
   7. (7) Offer counseling (individual, group, and/or family) and/or other appropriate treatment suited to the child’s individual needs, if the assessment indicates that mental health services are needed; and
   8. (8) Assist the Division of Children and Family Services in making referrals to other facilities if the CMHC does not have the specialized services required for the child.
3. (c) Prior authorization requests, diagnostic assessments, master treatment plans, progress notes, and other documentation required by the Division of Medical Services may be utilized to impart information, in lieu of written reports to the Division of Children and Family Services.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "11/2011"