{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-200.503","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 200.503","heading":"Definitions for KRS 200.501 to 200.509.","body":"As used in KRS 200.501 to 200.509, unless the context otherwise requires:\n(1) \"Child with a behavioral health need\" means a child or transition -age youth with, or\nat risk of developing, an emotional disability, substance use disorder, or mental,\nemotional, or behavioral needs;\n(2) \"Child with an emotional disability\" means a child or transition -age youth with a\nclinically significant disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation, memory, or\nbehavior that is listed in the current edition of the American  Psychiatric\nAssociation's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and seriously\nlimits a child's capacity to function in the home, school, or community;\n(3) \"Child with a serious emotional disability\" means a child or transition -age youth\nwith a clinically significant disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation,\nmemory, or behavior that is listed in the current edition of the American Psychiatric\nAssociation's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and that:\n(a) Presents substantial limitations that have persisted for at least one (1) year or\nare judged by a mental health professional to be at high risk of continuing for\none (1) year without professional intervention in at least two (2) of the\nfollowing five (5) areas: \"S elf-care,\" defined as the ability to provide, sustain,\nand protect his or herself at a level appropriate to his or her age; \"Interpersonal\nrelationships,\" defined as the ability to build and maintain satisfactory\nrelationships with peers and adults; \"Famil y life,\" defined as the capacity to\nlive in a family or family type environment; \"Self -direction,\" defined as the\nchild's ability to control his or her behavior and to make decisions in a manner\nappropriate to his or her age; and \"Education,\" defined as th e ability to learn\nsocial and intellectual skills from teachers in available educational settings;\n(b) Is a Kentucky resident and is receiving residential treatment for emotional\ndisability through the interstate compact;\n(c) The Department for Community B ased Services has removed the child from\nthe child's home and has been unable to maintain the child in a stable setting\ndue to behavioral health needs; or\n(d) Is a person under twenty -one (21) years of age meeting the criteria of\nparagraph (a) of this subs ection and who was receiving services prior to age\neighteen (18) that must be continued for therapeutic benefit;\n(4) \"Least restrictive alternative mode of treatment\" means treatment given in the least\nconfining setting which will provide a child or transi tion-age youth with an\nemotional disability or serious emotional disability appropriate treatment or care\nconsistent with accepted professional practice. For purposes of this section, least\nrestrictive alternative mode of treatment may include an institutional placement;\n(5) \"System of care\" means a spectrum of effective, community -based services and\nsupports for children and transition -age youth with or at risk of developing\nbehavioral health needs and their families, that is organized into a coordinated\nnetwork, builds meaningful partnerships with families and youth, and addresses\ntheir cultural and linguistic needs, in order to help them to function better at home,\nin school, in the community, and throughout life; and\n(6) \"Transition-age youth\" means indi viduals between the ages of sixteen (16) and\ntwenty-five (25).","path":["KRS Chapter 200"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=47946","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:51:56Z","sha256":"be08b9b83959914982894917fc9c070a6ccf5aba6918e758f5d88c6ecce71cea","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-200.501","next":"us-ky/krs-200.505"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}