(405 ILCS 30/3) (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 903)

Sec. 3. Responsibilities for community services. Pursuant to this Act, the Department of Human Services shall facilitate the establishment of a comprehensive and coordinated array of community services based upon a federal, State and local partnership. In order to assist in implementation of this Act, the Department shall prescribe and publish rules and regulations. The Department may request the assistance of other State agencies, local government entities, direct services providers, trade associations, and others in the development of these regulations or other policies related to community services.

The Department shall assume the following roles and responsibilities for community services:

(a) Service Priorities. Within the service categories described in Section 2 of this Act, establish and publish priorities for community services to be rendered, and priority populations to receive these services.

(b) Planning. By January 1, 1994 and by January 1 of each third year thereafter, prepare and publish a Plan which describes goals and objectives for community services state-wide and for regions and subregions needs assessment, steps and time-tables for implementation of the goals also shall be included; programmatic goals and objectives for community services shall cover the service categories defined in Section 2 of this Act; the Department shall insure local participation in the planning process.

(c) Public Information and Education. Develop programs aimed at improving the relationship between communities and their residents with disabilities; prepare and disseminate public information and educational materials on the prevention of developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders, and on available treatment and habilitation services for persons with these disabilities.

(d) Quality Assurance. Promulgate minimum program standards, rules and regulations to insure that Department funded services maintain acceptable quality and assure enforcement of these standards through regular monitoring of services and through program evaluation; this applies except where this responsibility is explicitly given by law to another State agency.

(d-5) Accreditation requirements for providers of mental health and substance abuse treatment services. Except when the federal or State statutes authorizing a program, or the federal regulations implementing a program, are to the contrary, accreditation shall be accepted by the Department in lieu of the Department's facility or program certification or licensure onsite review requirements and shall be accepted as a substitute for the Department's administrative and program monitoring requirements, except as required by subsection (d-10), in the case of:

(1) Any organization from which the Department purchases mental health or substance abuse services and that is accredited under any of the following: the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Behavioral Health Care (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)); the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (JCAHO); the Standards Manual for the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services (Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services (COA)); or the Standards Manual for Organizations Serving People with Disabilities (the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF)).

(2) Any mental health facility or program licensed or certified by the Department, or any substance abuse service licensed by the Department, that is accredited under any of the following: the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Behavioral Health Care (JCAHO); the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (JCAHO); the Standards Manual for the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services (COA); or the Standards Manual for Organizations Serving People with Disabilities (CARF).

(3) Any network of providers from which the Department purchases mental health or substance abuse services and that is accredited under any of the following: the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Behavioral Health Care (JCAHO); the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (JCAHO); the Standards Manual for the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services (COA); the Standards Manual for Organizations Serving People with Disabilities (CARF); or the National Committee for Quality Assurance. A provider organization that is part of an accredited network shall be afforded the same rights under this subsection.

(d-10) For mental health and substance abuse services, the Department may develop standards or promulgate rules that establish additional standards for monitoring and licensing accredited programs, services, and facilities that the Department has determined are not covered by the accreditation standards and processes. These additional standards for monitoring and licensing accredited programs, services, and facilities and the associated monitoring must not duplicate the standards and processes already covered by the accrediting bodies.

(d-15) The Department shall be given proof of compliance with fire and health safety standards, which must be submitted as required by rule.

(d-20) The Department, by accepting the survey or inspection of an accrediting organization, does not forfeit its rights to perform inspections at any time, including contract monitoring to ensure that services are provided in accordance with the contract. The Department reserves the right to monitor a provider of mental health and substance abuse treatment services when the survey or inspection of an accrediting organization has established any deficiency in the accreditation standards and processes.

(d-25) On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, the accreditation requirements of this Section apply to contracted organizations that are already accredited.

(e) Program Evaluation. Develop a system for conducting evaluation of the effectiveness of community services, according to preestablished performance standards; evaluate the extent to which performance according to established standards aids in achieving the goals of this Act; evaluation data also shall be used for quality assurance purposes as well as for planning activities.

(f) Research. Conduct research in order to increase understanding of mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders.

(g) Technical Assistance. Provide technical assistance to provider agencies receiving funds or serving clients in order to assist these agencies in providing appropriate, quality services; also provide assistance and guidance to other State agencies and local governmental bodies serving persons with disabilities in order to strengthen their efforts to provide appropriate community services; and assist provider agencies in accessing other available funding, including federal, State, local, third-party and private resources.

(h) Placement Process. Promote the appropriate placement of clients in community services through the development and implementation of client assessment and diagnostic instruments to assist in identifying the individual's service needs; client assessment instruments also can be utilized for purposes of program evaluation; whenever possible, assure that placements in State-operated facilities are referrals from community agencies.

(i) Interagency Coordination. Assume leadership in promoting cooperation among State health and human service agencies to insure that a comprehensive, coordinated community services system is in place; to insure persons with a disability access to needed services; and to insure continuity of care and allow clients to move among service settings as their needs change; also work with other agencies to establish effective prevention programs.

(j) Financial Assistance. Provide financial assistance to local provider agencies through purchase-of-care contracts and grants, pursuant to Section 4 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 100-759, eff. 1-1-19.)