November 2003

What is the Keeping Families Together Act and what is its relevance to system of care?

The Keeping Families Together Act (H.R.3243/S. 1704) was introduced on October 2, 2003. It addresses the issues that contribute to custody relinquishment by families who have children with emotional disorders and are unable to obtain appropriate mental health services. This Act will give states the ability to build new infrastructure to more efficiently serve children needing mental health services while keeping them with their families in their own homes. This legislation does the following:

• Provides $55 million over six years in family support grants to states that have committed to providing appropriate mental health services to children so that parents do not have to relinquish custody to get them the help they need. States are to use these grants to establish systems of care. Therefore, priority for grants is given to states that have a history of developing and supporting systems of care and interagency collaboration.

• Requires states to have in effect laws or policies to ensure that eligible children receive appropriate mental health services so that parents do not have to relinquish legal custody.

• States that eligible children and youth are those under age 21 who are in the custody of the state or are at risk of entering care to receive mental health services.

• Requires collaboration between both public and private partners, including families of children with serious emotional disturbance (SED), mental health providers, private health insurers, hospitals, residential care providers, and child welfare and juvenile justice state agencies.

• Establishes a Federal Interagency Task Force. The Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will establish the task force in conjunction with the Director of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Administrators of the Administration for Children and Families, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Assistant Secretary of Education for Special Education. This task force will submit a biannual report to Congress on its progress in implementing recommendations, ending relinquishments, and improving the delivery of mental health services.

For additional information on how your community can be involved, contact the Children's Defense Fund - Child Welfare and Mental Health Division 202-662-3568 or email dhoffman@childrensdefense.org .

For additional print resources, see Child Welfare November Resources.

Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health

Child Welfare Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Keeping Families Together Act and what is its relevance to system of care?

Home About Us About Systems of Care Contact Us Events & Presentations Newsletter Consultant Pool Special Topics Column Grantee Locator Webinars Resource Specialties Child Welfare Education Family Involvement Juvenile Justice Mental Health Primary Care Substance Abuse Sustainability Youth Involvement Regional Technical Assistance Region I Region II Region III Region IV Region V Region VI Communities of Practice Cultural and Linguistic Competence Early Childhood Transition-Aged Youth	Child Welfare Frequently Asked Questions
	November 2003 What is the Keeping Families Together Act and what is its relevance to system of care? The Keeping Families Together Act (H.R.3243/S. 1704) was introduced on October 2, 2003. It addresses the issues that contribute to custody relinquishment by families who have children with emotional disorders and are unable to obtain appropriate mental health services. This Act will give states the ability to build new infrastructure to more efficiently serve children needing mental health services while keeping them with their families in their own homes. This legislation does the following: • Provides $55 million over six years in family support grants to states that have committed to providing appropriate mental health services to children so that parents do not have to relinquish custody to get them the help they need. States are to use these grants to establish systems of care. Therefore, priority for grants is given to states that have a history of developing and supporting systems of care and interagency collaboration. • Requires states to have in effect laws or policies to ensure that eligible children receive appropriate mental health services so that parents do not have to relinquish legal custody. • States that eligible children and youth are those under age 21 who are in the custody of the state or are at risk of entering care to receive mental health services. • Requires collaboration between both public and private partners, including families of children with serious emotional disturbance (SED), mental health providers, private health insurers, hospitals, residential care providers, and child welfare and juvenile justice state agencies. • Establishes a Federal Interagency Task Force. The Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will establish the task force in conjunction with the Director of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Administrators of the Administration for Children and Families, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Assistant Secretary of Education for Special Education. This task force will submit a biannual report to Congress on its progress in implementing recommendations, ending relinquishments, and improving the delivery of mental health services. For additional information on how your community can be involved, contact the Children's Defense Fund - Child Welfare and Mental Health Division 202-662-3568 or email dhoffman@childrensdefense.org . For additional print resources, see Child Welfare November Resources.