The resolution addresses the need for Rhode Island to maintain a publicly funded behavioral and mental health care system that provides equitable access to high-quality services for all ages. Currently, the state operates two separate systems: one for children and families and another for adults aged 21 and older. These systems are difficult to navigate due to differences in administration and operation, which also hinders the state's ability to maximize resources, expand best practices, and develop sustainable services. A recent Senate Report has recommended the creation of a unified system under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) by consolidating services from the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH). This unified system would be housed within a redesigned BHDDH, which would oversee and administer programs and services across the life-cycle.

The resolution requests the Secretary of the EOHHS to begin planning for the unified system, with a deadline to establish it by July 1, 2026. The planning process must consider ongoing transitions, such as the realignment of state-operated hospitals and the implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act, as well as federal directives related to access and utilization of the current systems. The plan should align with other state health planning efforts and include strategies for improving equitable access to care. The Secretary is authorized to prepare an umbrella memorandum of understanding (MOU) for information sharing and to request assistance from relevant departments. Regular reports on the planning process are to be provided to the Senate and Governor, with a comprehensive report including recommendations and an implementation timeline due by April 1, 2025. The Secretary of State is directed to transmit a certified copy of the resolution to the Secretary of the EOHHS.