LOUISIANA Community Mental Health Services Block Grant ...

Adolescent Hospital was closed in 2009, with the goal of optimizing outpatient care for the state‟s
children and youth. Two new outpatient Behavioral Health Clinics were opened in the New
Orleans area to allow for improved mental health services in the area specifically for children and
youth. Statewide, there are 50 beds dedicated to Children/ Youth. There are several facilities in the
state that are operated by the Louisiana State University Medical schools that have acute mental
health beds. For a more detailed picture of the bed count across the state, see Criterion 5, Table
State Psychiatric Facilities Statewide Staffed Beds.
In keeping with System of Care principles and the need for a comprehensive continuum of care, the
Office of Behavioral Health has improved the array of community based services operated through
the hospitals and geographic regions. Persistent efforts have been successful in establishing more
community-based services operated through the hospitals (e.g., day hospitals, rehabilitation
programs). The community and hospital system of care emphasize continuity of care and treatment
in the least restrictive environment appropriate to the person‟s needs. There is an emphasis on a
close liaison between the regional service system, the LGEs, state hospitals, community provider
agencies, and consumer and family support and advocacy systems. OBH supports consumer and
family involvement in the planning, development, delivery, and evaluation of services. OBH
provides funding for regional consumer resource centers, various family support programs, and
regional consumer liaisons. OBH also trains and employs consumer and family members and
parents of emotionally disturbed children as quality of service evaluators. It is anticipated that with
the implementation of new Office of Behavioral Health framework, there will be a positive impact
on service delivery, and the basic care that individuals receive will be improved. Towards that end,
new Vision and Mission statements have been recommended by the OBH Implementation Advisory
Committee that will guide the administration and day-to-day provision of services.
Statewide planning and development towards a comprehensive, community-based system of care is
guided through the efforts of the State Mental Health Planning Council originally established under
PL 99-660 guidelines with full consumer/ family representation from throughout the State. The
Planning Council is responsible for Block Grant planning, together with OBH staff dedicated to this
function. The membership of the Planning Council includes 40 members who are primary
consumers, family members, parents of children with emotional/ behavioral disorders, advocates,
Regional Advisory Council chairs, and human service agency (LGE) representatives. The council
is geographically representative of the state. Included within the Council governance is the
Programs and Services Committee that addresses matters related to planning, development,
monitoring, and evaluation of mental health programs and services in the state. The OBH consumer
survey process, C‟est Bon, and the C/Y family survey process, La Fete, were developed by and are
monitored by this committee of the Council. The Planning Council and consumers have been very
active in service system performance evaluation.
Readers are referred to the State Maps and Organizational Charts, and tables that are provided in
this section.
PART C LOUISIANA FY 2011 PAGE 49
SECTION I: ADULT & CHILD/ YOUTH –DESCRIPTION OF STATE SERVICE SYSTEM
OVERVIEW, REGIONAL RESOURCES, LEADERSHIP