WHEREAS, children with serious emotional disturbances have unique abilities, concerns and diverse needs; and

      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 services, decreases 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 should participate 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 providing 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 an integrated system of care for children with mental health needs.

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, 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 providing 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;

      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:

        1. the Office of the Governor;
        2. the Legislature;
        3. the Judiciary;
        4. the Department of Health and Welfare;
        5. the Department of Juvenile Corrections;
        6. the Department of Education;
        7. the State Planning Council on Mental Health;
        8. a Parent Representative;
        9. an Advocate;
      10. a Representative of providers of children’s mental health services;
      11. a Country commissioner;
      12. a Tribal representative ;
      13. a Representative of the Hispanic community; and
      14. a Representative of the statewide regions of the Idaho Council on Children’s Health.

      All council members shall be appointed by the Governor.

      Council members’ term shall be for the duration of this Executive Order.

      The Governor hereby appoints Senator Denton Darrington 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.

        This Executive Order shall cease to be in effect on September29, 2008.

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 twenty-third day of June in the year of our Lord two thousand and seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-first and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred seventeenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE