KRS 210.509: Meeting and duties of regional planning councils.

(1) The regional planning councils shall meet as often as necessary to accomplish their

purpose.

(2) The regional planning councils shall:

(a) Assess in the region the needs of individuals with mental illness, substance

use disorders, and dual diagnoses;

(b) 1. Study the regional mental health and substance use disorder treatment

delivery system and identify specific barriers in each region to accessing

services;

2. Assess the capacity of and gaps in the existing system, including the

adequacy of a safety net system and the adequacy and availability of the

mental health and substance use disorder professional workforce in each

region; and

3. Assess the coordination and collaboration of efforts between public and

private facilities and entities;

(c) Develop a reg ional strategy to increase access to community -based services

and supports for individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders, and

dual diagnoses. The strategies may include:

1. Exploration of the use of community -based treatment programs,

including but not limited to community-based hospitalization;

2. Access to and funding for the most effective medications;

3. Promotion of family and consumer support groups statewide;

4. Reduction of instances of criminalization of individuals with mental

illness, substance use disorders, and dual diagnoses; and

5. Efforts to increase housing options for persons at risk of

institutionalization;

(d) Identify funding;

(e) Evaluate the access of children and youth to mental health and substance use

disorder services and preventive programs within the region, including but not

limited to those provided by schools, family resource and youth services

centers, public and private mental health and substance use disorder providers

and facilities, physical health care providers and facilities, the faith

community, and community agencies;

(f) Collect and evaluate data regarding individuals with mental illness, substance

use disorders , and dual diagnoses who experience repeated hospital

admissions, involvement with law enforcement, courts, and the judicial

system, and repeated referrals from hospitals to community -based services;

and

(g) Make recommendations on each subsection of this section in the regional

annual plans required by KRS 210.400.