| 28 | | - | Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2013) (a) There shall be a mental health first aid program. The program shall be under the direction of the Commissioner of Children and Families. The commissioner shall have the responsibility for implementing the program and setting the parameters thereof. The program shall provide (1) core live or online training courses to any parent or guardian of a school-age child on the skills, resources and knowledge to assist individuals in crisis to connect with appropriate local mental health care services; (2) training on mental health resources, including the location of community mental health centers in the state and local community; (3) training on action plans and protocols for referral to such resources; and (4) within available appropriations, continuing education and updated training for such parent or guardian. |
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| 30 | | - | (b) In each fiscal year for which funds are appropriated for purposes of the mental health first aid program, the Department of Children and Families shall establish a grant program for the purpose of providing funds to entities for the establishment of online or community-based programs for the detection and prevention of emotional and behavioral problems in youths. |
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| 32 | | - | (c) The commissioner shall solicit grant applications from entities which shall be submitted annually to the commissioner at such time and on such forms as the commissioner prescribes. The commissioner shall issue such grants by September fifteenth of each year. In determining if an entity shall be granted funds pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to, the following factors: (1) Availability in the community of professional, paraprofessional and other program staff with background and experience in mental health first aid training; (2) the entity's ability to accommodate the program; (3) demonstration of strong support by administrative personnel, teaching staff, pupil personnel staff and local community mental health centers; and (4) reasonable evidence of future stability of the program and its personnel. |
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| 34 | | - | (d) To be eligible for a grant under subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a mental health first aid training program shall be designed to train any parent or guardian of a school-age child to accomplish each of the following objectives: (1) Safe deescalation of crisis situations; (2) recognition of the signs and symptoms of mental illness, including such common psychiatric conditions as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major clinical depression and anxiety disorder; and (3) timely referral to mental health services in the early stages of developing mental disorders in order to (A) avoid more costly subsequent behavioral health care, and (B) enhance the effectiveness of mental health services. |
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| 36 | | - | (e) Any entity receiving a grant under this section shall (1) prepare and submit an evaluation to the commissioner at such time, in such manner and containing such information as the commissioner shall prescribe, including an evaluation of activities carried out with funds received under such grant; and (2) prepare an annual report card employing the results-based accountability format developed by the results-based accountability subcommittee of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children and appropriations. |
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| 41 | | - | This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: |
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| 42 | | - | Section 1 October 1, 2013 New section |
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| 44 | | - | This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: |
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| 46 | | - | Section 1 |
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| 48 | | - | October 1, 2013 |
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| 50 | | - | New section |
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| 27 | + | That the general statutes be amended to develop a mental health first aid program for parents to enable parents to better identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness. |
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