This bill mandates the Department of Children and Families to allocate a $1,000,000 grant to the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute for the purpose of studying and mapping mental health care resources available for children. The Institute is tasked with assembling a group of stakeholders, including experts in pediatric mental health care, providers, and program administrators from various regions of New Jersey. Their responsibilities include creating a comprehensive visual journey map of families' experiences in accessing mental health care, identifying eligibility rules and barriers to services, and providing policy recommendations to enhance the structure and funding of pediatric mental health programs.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific research and evaluation tasks for the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, such as assessing the current landscape of pediatric mental health services, conducting qualitative research, and analyzing data on mental health outcomes to identify disparities. The Commissioner of Children and Families is required to submit the findings to the Governor and Legislature within 15 months of the bill's enactment and make the documents publicly available. The bill aims to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of mental health care for children in New Jersey.