(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) That mental health case management services required for children with serious emotional disturbance are different than these services for clients with mental health disorders described in Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 5670).

(2) That mental health case management services for children with serious emotional disturbance are not defined in statute.

(3) That the development of mental health case management for these children would ensure comprehensive appraisal and utilization of the most appropriate resources within the children’s environment, as well as the maintenance and strengthening of family ties.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the development of mental health case management services for children with serious emotional disturbance who are separated or at risk of being separated from their families and require mental health treatment, to the extent resources are available. It is further the intent of the Legislature that mental health case management for children with serious emotional disturbance in this state be developed in accordance with the definitions and guidelines contained in this chapter.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 144, Sec. 103. (AB 1847) Effective January 1, 2015.)