Section 132.10  Purpose

a)         To facilitate the establishment of a comprehensive and coordinated continuum of community-based programs, sensitive to the needs of local communities, for persons with or at risk for a diagnosis of mental illness.

b)         To effectuate the Division of Mental Health's role as the federally-recognized State Mental Health Authority with statutory mandates to plan, fund and monitor community-based mental health programs.

c)         To promote the availability of culturally relevant, evidence-based, developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed mental health programs across the lifespan.

d)         To maximize the effectiveness and quality of programs to ensure cost efficiency and best possible outcomes in natural settings that reduce the use of institutional care.

e)         To establish criteria for certification and recertification of Comprehensive Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) and other entities seeking to offer programs directly funded by DHS-DMH and DCFS.