N.H. Rev. Stat. § 135-F:3 — NH Code / Title X / Chapter 135-F / Section 3
135-F:3 Definition; System of Care.
Status: in_force

I. In this chapter, "system of care" means an integrated and comprehensive delivery structure for the provision of publicly funded behavioral health services to New Hampshire children and youth. II. The system of care is to provide services to all children and youth receiving publicly-funded behavioral health services, including, but not limited to, children and youth in any of the following systems: (a) Children in need of services under RSA 169-D. (b) Juvenile delinquency under RSA 169-B. (c) Child protection under RSA 169-C. (d) Children with disabilities under RSA 186-C. (e) Children and youth eligible for services under RSA 135-C. (f) Children eligible for early intervention pursuant to Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and He-M 510. (g) Children eligible for the child care scholarship program under He-C 6910 due to disability. (h) Children, birth to age 6, with exposure to adverse childhood experiences and those with severe emotional disturbances whose needs are not met through childcare, educational, and developmental services alone. III. The system of care shall have the following characteristics: (a) A comprehensive behavioral health program with a flexible benefit package that includes clinically necessary and appropriate home and community-based treatment services and comprehensive support services in the least restrictive setting. (b) An absence of significant gaps in services and barriers to access services. (c) Community-based care planning and service delivery, including services and supports for children from birth through early childhood. The system of care shall include the creation of a trauma-responsive referral pathway and intervention services for children, birth to age 6, and their caregivers, including direct linkages to evidence-based mental health intervention and prevention programming to educate parents, caregivers, and childcare providers. (d) Service planning and implementation based on the needs and preferences of the child or youth and his or her family which places an emphasis on early identification, prevention, and treatment and uses an individualized wraparound approach for children with complex needs. (e) Services that are family-driven, youth-guided, community-based, trauma-informed, and culturally and linguistically competent. (f) An efficient balance of local participation and state wide administration. (g) Integration of funding streams. (h) A performance measurement system for monitoring quality and access. (i) Accountability for quality, access, and cost. (j) Comprehensive children and youth behavioral health training for agency and system staff and interested parents and guardians. (k) Effective identification of youth in need of transition services to adult systems. (l) Statewide use of the multi-tiered system of supports for behavioral health and wellness, or MTSS-B, in New Hampshire schools to address New Hampshire students' social, emotional, and behavioral health needs in order to improve students' educational outcomes and keep students in their home schools and communities. For the purposes of this chapter, a "multi-tiered system of supports for behavioral health and wellness" or "MTSS-B" shall include: (1) A school wide system of evidence-based behavioral practices for all students; (2) A targeted system of practices for youth who need additional support; and (3) A tertiary system of intensive and individualized interventions for students with the greatest behavioral needs.