Alcohol dependence: means alcohol abuse that results in the development of tolerance or manifestations of alcohol abstinence syndrome upon cessation of use. See Tennessee Code 33-1-101
Commissioner: means the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services. See Tennessee Code 33-1-101
Department: means the department of mental health and substance abuse services. See Tennessee Code 33-1-101
Drug dependence: means drug abuse that results in the development of tolerance or manifestations of drug abstinence syndrome upon cessation of use. See Tennessee Code 33-1-101
Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) The commissioner shall initiate the development of and enter into interagency agreements on services and supports for children in coordination with the council on children’s mental health care, adults, and the elderly to:
(A) Assure accountability for services and supports across all agencies providing services and supports for a person or family whose service is covered by this title;(B) Clarify responsibilities for the department‘s service system;(C) Promote problem resolution at the local levels;(D) Promote interagency service needs assessment and planning;(E) Provide a vehicle for interagency policy development without interfering with agency independence;(F) Promote creation and maintenance of coordinated service systems for service recipients and families;(G) Provide for interrelated service planning across agency lines;(H) Promote inclusion of mental health and developmental disabilities issues in crisis and disaster planning; and(I) Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of expenditure of public funds.(2) All state agencies shall cooperate with the department in the development of the agreements.(b) The agreements shall include, without limitation: the intersection of services and supports among all state agencies that have any responsibility for mental health, developmental disabilities, alcohol dependence, drug dependence, education, health, social services, housing, transportation, employment, justice, habilitation, rehabilitation, correction, or public funding of services and supports; transition between services to different age groups; information sharing, including records, data, and service; and interagency training.(c) Interagency agreements should include at least the following elements:
(1) Goals and the expected outcomes against which progress will be measured;(2) Eligible populations;(3) Role responsibilities;(4) Covered services and supports;(5) Procedures for coordination, including local level implementation procedures;(6) Joint monitoring;(7) Data sharing; and(8) How conflict resolution will be achieved.(d) The commissioner may initiate the development of and enter into similar interagency agreements with local government agencies.
