Standards for Community Mental Health Centers & Clinics in the State of Arkansas

Arkansas' Division of Behavioral Health Services certifies and contracts with community mental health centers and clinics in the state to provide mental and behavioral health services, such as emergency crisis services, counseling and psychological evaluations. The state operates two of its own major psychiatric and behavioral health treatment facilities: the Arkansas Health Center and the Arkansas State Hospital. The community mental health centers the Division of Behavioral Health Services certifies serve as the single point-of-entry into these state treatment facilities.

Accreditation

• Arkansas Division of Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) requires that community mental health service providers receive accreditation from a health care organization, such as the Council on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health care Organizations (JCAHO) or the Council on Accreditation (COA). These organizations set standards of care, treatment and patient safety for hospitals, clinics and behavioral health care providers. The process of accreditation involves submitting a formal application, creating a plan of action and hosting the accrediting organization for an on-site survey of the mental health center or clinic.

Qualified Professionals

• The state of Arkansas requires that mental health care facilities use the services of qualified professionals to provide treatment to the mentally ill and others who need services. The standards require that behavioral health care providers employ the services of both a psychiatrist and psychologist or licensed psychological examiner. The center or clinic must also hire another separate, licensed mental health professional. In addition, a medical records librarian is required to maintain the proper filing and organizational procedures of patient records.

Minimum Services

• Standards for mental health care centers and clinics dictate the minimum level of services that must be provided to clients. Arkansas requires that the facility maintain 24-hour, seven-day-a-week face-to-face crisis services for clients and patients with an available emergency phone number. In addition to crisis services, the provider should offer both outpatient services and intervention services (both on- and off-site). The state requires centers to provide both psychological evaluations and medication management services.

Treatment of Minors

• Arkansas DBHS takes the treatment of minors seriously and requires that community mental health care centers and clinics maintain a policy for this issue. Specifically, the policy has to address a plan for involvement of all or some of the minor's family members, including parents and guardians, siblings and anyone else who is significantly involved in the minor's life. Policies should include detailed information concerning how family members can get involved with the development of treatment goals as well as the evaluation of the minor's treatment progress.