(a) The purposes of the mental health regions shall be to establish a system of regionalized services for care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disabilities; to provide other community mental health services for the maintenance of mental health and the prevention of psychiatric disabilities in addition to those services already available; to recommend contracts to be made by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services for services from providers of mental health services, including private agencies and other state or municipal agencies; and to provide or arrange for grants for demonstration and pilot programs, research, education and training.

(b) A person receiving services from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services may receive services outside the region in which such person resides.