WHEREAS, serious emotional disturbances interfere with the vital development and maturation of our state's most important resource - its children; and

    WHEREAS, the appropriate treatment of children and youth with serious emotional disturbances is cost-effective because it enhances productivity, reduces utilization of more costly and invasive service, lessens social dependence and family disruption; and

    WHEREAS, the State of Idaho desires to establish a comprehensive, community-based system of care emphasizing the natural support that families and peers provide; and

    WHEREAS, these families would benefit from individualized services which are acceptable and accountable to them and others in the communities where they live; and

    WHEREAS, children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families have the right to, and responsibility for, ongoing participation in determining their destiny at the direct service level and at the policy and planning level; and

    WHEREAS, the Idaho Legislature has set forth its policy for the provision of these services in the Idaho Children's Mental Health Services Act; and

    WHEREAS, the implementation plan formulated from the recommendations of The Needs Assessment of Idaho's Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances and Their Families proposes that the Idaho Council on Children's Mental Health be established to provide state level leadership in the development of a integrated system of care for children with mental health needs;

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Idaho, do hereby establish the Idaho Council on Children's Mental Health.

    The Council's responsibilities shall be:

    To oversee the implementation of the plan and the legislative policy for the provision of access to treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation services for children with serious emotional disturbances;

    To serve as a vehicle for inter- and intra-agency policy and program development; and

     To establish local level councils according to resources, population, need and geographic considerations;

     To define the specific key duties, powers, goals, and outcomes to be achieved by the local councils;

     To provide leadership through the development of standards, provision of technical assistance, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the progress of the local councils; and

     To evaluate and make recommendations regarding the funding and delivery of children's mental health services statewide.

     Council membership shall be composed of representatives from the following:

The Office of the Governor;
The Legislative branch;
The Judicial branch;
The Department of Health and Welfare;
The Department of Juvenile Corrections;
The Department of Education;
The State Planning Council on Mental Health;
A parent representative or advocate;
A representative of providers of children's mental health services; and
A County Commissioner.

    This Executive Order shall cease to be in effect four years after its entry into force.

    Council members shall serve a term of two (2) years. The members may serve additional terms. The Governor shall appoint the Lieutenant Governor to serve as the Chairman of the Council. Staff for the Council will be provided by the Department of Health and Welfare. The Council may establish subcommittees at its discretion.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and one and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred twenty-fifth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred eleventh.

PETE T. CENARRUSA
SECRETARY OF STATE