The legislature intends to substantially improve the delivery of children’s mental health services in Washington state through the development and implementation of a children’s mental health system that:

(1) Values early identification, intervention, and prevention;

(2) Coordinates existing categorical children’s mental health programs and funding, through efforts that include elimination of duplicative care plans and case management;

(3) Treats each child in the context of his or her family, and provides services and supports needed to maintain a child with his or her family and community;

(4) Integrates families into treatment through choice of treatment, participation in treatment, and provision of peer support;

(5) Focuses on resiliency and recovery;

(6) Relies to a greater extent on evidence-based practices;

(7) Is sensitive to the unique cultural circumstances of children of color and children in families whose primary language is not English;

(8) Integrates educational support services that address students’ diverse learning styles; and

(9) To the greatest extent possible, blends categorical funding to offer more service and support options to each child.

Captions not law—2007 c 359: “Captions used in this act are not part of the law.” [ 2007 c 359 § 14.]