Sec.17a-11-7. Admission criteria

(a) A child or youth eligible for the voluntary services program shall meet the criteria prescribed in subdivisions (1) through (4) of this subsection:

(1) The child or youth has an emotional, behavioral or substance use disorder diagnosable under the most recent edition of "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM). A child or youth with a "V code", developmental disorder, or mental retardation, as defined in the DSM, shall only be eligible if the child or youth also has an emotional, behavioral or substance use disorder and the alleviation of said emotional, behavioral or substance use disorder is the primary purpose of the request for voluntary services;

(2) The child or youth's treatment needs cannot be met through services currently available to the parent or guardian;

(3) The child or youth's disorder or disturbance can be treated with services offered, administered by, or under contract with, or otherwise available to, the department at the time of application; and,

(4) The child or youth has not reached the age of eighteen at the time of referral.

(b) In addition to the criteria in subsection (a) of this section a child or youth eligible for out of home placement through the voluntary services program shall meet the criteria prescribed in subdivisions (1) through (4) of this subsection:

(1) the department has determined that out of home placement is the least restrictive alternative for treating the child or youth's emotional or behavioral disorder;

(2) An appropriate department approved treatment program or facility is available;

(3) There is a reasonably healthy parent-child relationship, and there is reason to believe that the parent or guardian will continue to maintain a relationship with the child or youth while he is participating in the voluntary services program and will continue to be an active participant in all aspects of the planning and treatment process; and,

(4) There is a reasonable expectation that the child or youth will return to the parent or guardian when the case service plan is completed.

(c) A child or youth who has been committed to the commissioner as a juvenile delinquent and who will require the extension of placement or services on a voluntary basis upon the expiration of the commitment may also be admitted to the voluntary services program at the discretion of the commissioner or his designee.

(Adopted effective September 26, 2001)