Discharge Plans

This is a bill about helping young people who are leaving a hospital where they got help with their behavioral problems. 

• Young people: someone under the age of 18

• Discharge Plan: When a young person leaves a place like a hospital or a shelter, they need a plan to help them get back on track..

  • The person can choose to go back to where they lived before the hospital or go to a different place. 

  • The plan should include things like mental health care, housing, and other help the person needs. 

  • The plan should be explained to the young person, and copies should be sent to their parents or the people taking care of them. 

  • If the young person goes to a public school, and the people at the treatment place think the person might hurt themselves or others, or need more help with schoolwork, they can share some of the plan with the school counselor. 

  • Before sharing any information with the school, the treatment place has to tell the parents what kind of information might be shared and give them a chance to say no. 

  • The young person's lawyer and guardian can also get a copy of the plan if they ask for it. 

  • No one can leave the hospital without a plan from the community services board. 

• Community Services Board: This is a group of people who help people in the community with their mental health problems. 

  • The community services board helps people leaving the hospital make a plan for their life after they leave. 

  • The community services board also tells hospitals about services for young people who have problems with drugs or alcohol.

    • Some services include: 

      • Family Assessment and Planning Team: This is a group of people who help families with problems. 

      • Community Policy and Management Team: This is a group of people who work together to help young people in the community. 

• If the hospital thinks someone is ready to leave, but the community services board doesn't agree, they have to write down why. 

• If the hospital and the community services board can't agree, they can ask the Commissioner to help decide. 

  • If the Commissioner decides the person is ready to leave, they make sure there is enough money to help the person.