LOUISIANA Community Mental Health Services Block Grant ...

SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS
(SUBSTANCE ABUSE / MENTAL HEALTH) AND
OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES
FY 2011 – Child/Youth
As described earlier in this document, 2009 legislation created the Office of Behavioral Health,
combining the functions of the Office of Mental Health and the Office for Addictive Disorders. In
some parts of the state OMH and OAD already jointly deliver services to people with co-occurring
mental and substance disorders. Co-occurring treatment ensures that emphasis is placed on early
mental health screening, assessment and referral to services, and eliminating disparities in mental
health services as noted in The President’s New Freedom Commission Report Goals #3 and #4.
Louisiana Integrated Treatment Model (LITS)
The Louisiana Integrated Treatment Model (LITS) initiative was funded through the SAMHSA
supported Co-occurring State Incentive Grants, which in its conception was designed to target the
adult population with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. However, the
Behavioral Health Taskforce (the LITS executive leadership committee) later identified cooccurring
disorders in children and youth as a long-term priority. The LITS model is organized
around nine Core Principles (please refer to the Adult Section on Services for Persons with Co-
Occurring Disorders [Substance Abuse / Mental Health] and Other Substance Abuse Services) and
includes ten service domains which are provided throughout four Treatment and Recovery Phases.
Conceptually, the locus of care is determined through a severity grid. In 2004, Louisiana was
chosen by SAMHSA as one of 10 states to participate in the first National Policy Academy on Co-
Occurring Mental and Substance Abuse Disorders. At the Academy, the Louisiana Team used the
current LITS grant as a foundation, but broadened the scope of work to include children and youth,
as well as partnerships with primary care. The outcome of the Academy was the draft of an action
plan that has been used to help guide the initiative. Included in the action plan is the expectation that
Louisiana citizens will be provided with an integrated system of healthcare that encompasses all
people, including individuals with co-occurring mental and addictive disorders regardless of age,
who will easily access the full range of services, in order to promote and support their sustained
resilience and recovery. The recent creation of the Office of Behavioral Health will aid in this
treatment model becoming the norm.
Implementation of services for children and youth with co-occurring disorders include:
Establishment of a workgroup to develop long-range plans for serving children with cooccurring
disorders.
Screening of children of parents who are seen in a co-occurring program to be implemented
with a New Orleans‟ Drug Court Program (pilot program).
Screening of parents seen in the Early Childhood Services and Supports Program for cooccurring
disorders.
The continuation of Louisiana Youth Enhanced Services (LA-Y.E.S.) as a system of care
initiative has been instrumental in coordinating a variety of agencies including mental health
and addictive disorders services into the community array to support co-occurring disorders
in children.
PART C LOUISIANA FY 2011 PAGE 207
SECTION III: CHILD/ YOUTH PLAN – CRITERION 1
COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES -- SYSTEM OF CARE & AVAILABLE SERVICES