The bill mandates the Department of Children and Families to allocate a $1,000,000 grant to the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute. This funding is intended to facilitate the assembly of a stakeholder group tasked with creating a comprehensive visual journey map that outlines families' experiences in accessing mental health care and related support services for children. The group will also identify eligibility rules for pediatric mental health care programs, analyze barriers to access, and provide policy recommendations aimed at improving the structure and funding of these services to ensure they are family- and child-focused.
Additionally, the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute is required to evaluate the current landscape of pediatric mental health care services, conduct qualitative research, and compile data on mental health outcomes. The findings, including a visual mapping of the steps families must take to access services and a summary of eligibility criteria and coverage details, must be submitted to the Department of Children and Families within 13 months of the bill's enactment. The Commissioner of Children and Families is then tasked with submitting these documents to the Governor and Legislature, as well as making them publicly available on the Department's website, within 15 months. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon approval.