2017 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 27 - Behavioral Health
Mental Health and Mental Health Disorders
Article 67 - Child Mental Health Treatment Act
§ 27-67-102. Legislative declaration
(1) The general assembly finds that many parents in Colorado have experienced challenging circumstances because their children have significant mental health needs. Many times, the parents are loving, caring parents who have become increasingly frustrated in their attempts to navigate the various governmental systems including child welfare, mental health, law enforcement, juvenile justice, education, and youth services in an attempt to find help for their children. Frequently in these situations an action in dependency or neglect under article 3 of title 19 is neither appropriate nor warranted.
(2) The general assembly finds that it is desirable to assist children with mental health needs and their families. The general assembly further finds that it is desirable to make mental health services more available to families who want treatment for their children. The general assembly finds that, although the mental health agencies are responsible for providing the full range of mental health treatment services, including residential care, for those children who have been found to be categorically eligible for medicaid, there remains a population of children in need of mental health services who are not categorically eligible for medicaid. Accordingly, the general assembly determines that it is appropriate to adopt a program pursuant to which a continuum of services would be provided to these children.
