Please join us in supporting KY Senate Bill 21 Sponsored by Senator R. Alvarado entitled “AN ACT relating to mental health treatment.” 

Why this matters: This bill may help to give Kentucky children and adults better mental health support with continuous care. This may help to increase access to mental health services and reduce the impact of untreated mental health needs in unhoused persons across Kentucky. 

Background Information: This bill promotes patients who agree to receive mental health services in a hospital or other in-patient setting being voluntarily transported to and from one facility to another facility without dropping patients off in the streets before they arrive at the next hospital or facility. This means patients that agree to treatment will be given proper intake and evaluation before they leave any facility. 

This bill also “allow(s) any qualified mental health professional to provide clinic or outpatient mental health counseling to any child who is age 16 or older and is an unaccompanied or [unhoused] youth without having written consent from a parent or guardian.” Children that are unaccompanied and/or unhoused may experience mental health and trauma challenges that remain sufficiently unaddressed. These challenges especially those that are considered Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can have long-term impacts on both physical and mental health such as PTSD, heart disease, obesity, and many other health concerns. Connecting youth with supportive services is an essential step in promoting their success and survival.  

Summary: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/21rs/sb21.html 

Full content: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/21RS/sb21/bill.pdf