In order to provide community-based treatment as an alternative to hospitalization, the Office of Mental Health shall provide or cause to be provided a range of mental health programs for children in each mental health center recognized by the State. Based on available resources and to the extent funds are made available to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities by the General Assembly, the programs must include, but are not limited to:

1. (1) twenty-four hour emergency assessment;
2. (2) crisis stabilization;
3. (3) in-home intervention;
4. (4) therapeutic foster care;
5. (5) outpatient counseling, diagnostic evaluation, including psychological testing when required, and psychiatric assessment and evaluation;
6. (6) consultation with other agencies serving the child.

HISTORY: 1991 Act No. 88, SECTION 1.

Code Commissioner's Note

At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.