(a) Purpose.  The purpose of the Children and Family Services Division's (CFSD) mental health services is to ensure that children in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) receive inpatient mental health treatment as needed in accordance with Sections 5-501 through 5-513 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, Inpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment of Minors Act.  The primary purpose of inpatient mental health treatment is for the short-term crisis stabilization of children.  The number of children in OKDHS custody in inpatient mental health treatment is minimized by the utilization of outpatient behavioral health care services and community-based residential services.

(b) Legal base.  The rules in OAC 340:75-16 are issued in compliance with Sections 5-501 through 5-513 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, Inpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment of Minors Act, and Section 7004-1.1 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which mandates OKDHS to review and assess each child in the custody of OKDHS to determine the type of placement consistent with the treatment needs of the child in the nearest geographical proximity to the home of the child.