KRS 194A.387: Behavioral health -related community crisis and disaster response --

Responsibilities of Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and

Intellectual Disabilities.

(1) The department shall coordinate behavioral health -related community cr isis 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 provisio n 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 f ollowing 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 respo nse 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 collaborati on 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 avai lable for programs related to supporting

survivors of crisis events or community disasters.