(1) The department shall coordinate behavioral health-related community crisis and disaster response. The department shall have primary responsibility and authority for planning and executing behavioral health-related community crisis response and behavioral health-related disaster response.
(2) The department shall:
(a) Develop, update, and maintain a statewide community crisis response support plan for providing crisis response services;
(b) Serve as the primary state agency for the core functional area of mental health and substance abuse care under Emergency Support Function #8, Public Health and Medical Services;
(c) Annually review the behavioral health portion of the Kentucky Emergency
Operations Plan and make recommendations for updates to the plan;
(d) Participate in state-level planning workgroups to address the provision of crisis response services;
(e) Establish and maintain memoranda of understanding and master agreements with local partners to provide crisis response services following a disaster or critical incident;
(f) Develop, administer, and maintain a statewide system of registration and credentialing of community crisis response volunteers to provide crisis response services;
(g) Actively recruit volunteers to serve on the community crisis response team and the local community crisis response teams, ensuring representation from a diversity of first responders and behavioral health provider peer groups;
(h) Develop, administer, and maintain a statewide network of registered, credentialed, and regional response-ready volunteers to provide crisis response services following a disaster or critical incidents in the Commonwealth;
(i) Participate in local and statewide all-hazards and terrorism disaster exercises focusing on meeting behavioral health needs of those affected;
(j) Create and execute all-hazards and terrorism disaster exercises for volunteers for the community crisis response team and local community crisis response teams focusing on meeting behavioral health needs of those affected;
(k) Apply for and administer Federal Emergency Management Agency crisis counseling grants following a Presidential declaration, in collaboration with local and regional behavioral health providers; and
(l) Apply for and administer community crisis response and disaster specific behavioral health grants from:
1. The federal government;
2. Private foundations; and
3. Other sources that may be available for programs related to supporting
survivors of crisis events or community disasters.
Effective: June 29, 2023
History: Created 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 58, sec. 2, effective June 29, 2023.