{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-1131.03","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 7-1131.03","heading":"Establishment and purposes of the Department of Mental Health.","body":"(a)\nThere is established as a separate cabinet-level Department, subordinate to the Mayor, the Department of Mental Health.\n\n(b)\nThe Department shall be the successor in interest to the Commission on Mental Health Services, established by Mayor’s Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1986, effective January 3, 1987 (part B of subchapter VII of Chapter 15 of Title 1), and Mayor’s Order No. 88-168, effective July 13, 1988, and under receivership in the case of Dixon, et al. v. Williams, et al., C.A. No. 74-285 (NHJ), in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.\n\n(c)\nThe provisions of this chapter are intended to be construed in a manner consistent with all outstanding orders of the United States District Court inDixon, et al. v. Williams, et al., including the Final Plan adopted by the District Court in its April 2, 2001 order.\n\n(d)\nThe Department shall have as its purposes:\n(1)\nDeveloping a system of care for adults that is integrated to the maximum practicable extent with other public systems in the District, including but not limited to addiction treatment and prevention, criminal justice, education, health, housing, income maintenance, and vocational rehabilitation;\n(2)\nDeveloping a system of care for children, youth, and their families that is integrated to the maximum practicable extent with other public systems in the District, including but not limited to addiction treatment and prevention, child welfare, criminal justice, developmental services, education, health, housing, income maintenance, juvenile justice, and vocational rehabilitation;\n(3)\nEnsuring that persons with mental illness and children or youth with mental health problems are treated in the most integrated setting that can be accommodated, consistent with individual needs and public safety;\n(4)\nFostering the development of high quality, comprehensive, cost effective, and culturally competent mental health services and mental health supports, based on recognized local needs, especially for persons with serious mental illness and children or youth with serious emotional disturbances;\n(5)\nPromoting mental health and public awareness of mental health issues;\n(6)\nEnsuring that services provided to mental health consumers meet standards established by the Department pursuant to § 7-1131.14(2)-(5) for the operation of mental health services and mental health supports;\n(7)\nDeveloping and implementing strategies to eliminate barriers and improve access to mental health services and mental health supports for consumers of mental health services; and\n(8)\nEnsuring the participation of consumers, families, employees, providers, and advocates of mental health services and mental health supports in the planning, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of these services and supports.\n\n(e)\nIn assessing or meeting the service needs of consumers of mental health services, the Department shall not discriminate against consumers based upon their eligibility or non-eligibility for Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance coverage; provided, that nothing in this section shall preclude the Department from establishing by regulation a mental-health-benefit program or plan based upon eligibility or non-eligibility for Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance coverage.\n\n(f)\nNothing in this chapter requires or shall be construed as requiring the Department or any provider with which the Department contracts to provide mental health services or mental health supports to persons who are not residents of the District, except where those persons are likely to injure themselves or others if services are not provided or where services are otherwise required by law.\n\n(g)\nNothing in this chapter shall limit the civil rights of consumers of mental health services who have reached the age of majority under District law.\n\n(h)\nNothing in this chapter shall affect the authority of the Medical Assistance Administration as the single state agency for the administration of the Medicaid Program under section 1902(a)(5) of the Social Security Act, approved July 30, 1965 (79 Stat. 344; 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(5)).","path":["Title 7. Human Health Care and Safety.","Chapter 11B. Department of Mental Health Establishment."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/7-1131.03","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"ed3021ea18ce1023236de526bc0a5e5ae8be750963ee7164a57ad0e8477bf324","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-1131.02","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-7-1131.04"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}