Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
April 19, 2006, Vol. 06-44

New Freedom Initiative
Demonstration of Alternatives to Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities created by the Deficit Reduction Act Focused Open Door Forum Wednesday, April 26, 2006 2:30pm-4pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) Conference Call Only

This New Freedom Initiative Open Door Forum will focus on Section 6063 of Deficit Reduction Act.

Short Summary of the Provision
Sec. 6063. Demonstration projects regarding home and community-based alternative to psychiatric residential treatment facilities for children.

This five-year demonstration provides community-based alternatives to psychiatric residential treatment facilities for individuals under the age of 21. The Secretary is authorized during the period from FY 2007 through FY 2011 to conduct demonstration projects in up to 10 states. This proposal would appropriate $218 million for the project period, and, of that amount, million is made available for required interim and final evaluations and reports.

This Open Door Forum will attempt to answer the following discussion questions:
1) What is the definition of psychiatric residential treatment facilities?
Some states assert that there are few states with facilities that meet the
statutory definition. Can state officials and other stakeholders please
comment on any problems this definition raises?

2) Are there evidence based practices that are important to include in this
demonstration program? Should states be encouraged to test new
approaches under this demonstration?

3) The legislation requires CMS to measure the improvement or
maintenance of a child's functional level. How should CMS implement
this requirement?

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Open Door Forum Participation Instructions:

General Public
Dial: 1-800-837-1935

Reference Conference ID: 7501286
TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880 and for Internet Relay services click here http://www.consumer.att.com/relay/which/index.html. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.

ENCORE: 1-800-642-1687; Conf. ID# 7501286
Encore is a recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing 1-800-642-1687 and entering the Conf. ID., beginning 2 hours after the call has ended. The recording expires after 3 full business days
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The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.