The Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act (CYMHTA) (C.R.S. 27-67-101, et. seq.), also called House Bill 18-1094, allows for families to access mental health treatment services for their child or youth. CYMHTA is an alternative to child welfare involvement when a dependency and neglect action isn't warranted. CYMHTA funding can be available when there is no other appropriate funding source for treatment, such as private insurance.
To be eligible for the Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act, a child or youth:
- Must have a mental health diagnosis
- Must be at risk of out-of-home placement
- Isn't eligible for Medicaid
- Accesses the program prior to their 18th birthday
- Doesn't have a pending or current dependency and neglect action with child welfare
Resources and Information
- For Parents/Guardians
The parent(s) or the legal guardian(s) of a child or youth applies for services under the Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act by doing the following:
- Contact your local Mental Health Agency's CYMHTA Liaison
- Request an assessment under CYMHTA
- CYMHTA pays for the assessment and case management
- Treatment services for your child or youth are recommended
- The CYMHTA Liaison helps to find and set up treatment services
- You can request an advocate at any point in this process
For additional behavioral health resources, including residential treatment options, please consult our list of Residential Facilities Utilizing Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents.
Parents or legal guardians are responsible for 7 percent of the total costs of the treatment services provided under CYMHTA, at minimum paying $50 per calendar month.
If the child or youth is placed in a residential level of care under CYMHTA funding, the parent or legal guardian must apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) on behalf of their child or youth within ten (10) business days.
- For Medicaid-Eligible Children
For a Medicaid child or youth, a parent or legal guardian may request an objective third-party clinical review within five business days after all first-level Medicaid appeals processes for the residential denial are exhausted. This clinical review does not obligate the funding of services.
- Program Rules and Statute
Please find relevant behavioral health regulations and statute listed below. The online versions of these behavioral health regulations and statute are the most current versions available. However, these are not the official versions. For official publication of these and all State of Colorado regulations, please consult the Code of Colorado Regulations (CCR) or contact Lexis-Nexis at 800.227.9597 or the Secretary of State, Information Center at 303.894.2200, x6418.
Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Rules (2 CCR 502-1) Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act 21.200.4 Definitions 21.200.41 Program Description 21.200.42 Application for Funding 21.200.43 Process of Determining Ability to Pay and Adjusted Charge for Treatment Services 21.200.44 Appeal of the Reduction, Termination, or Denial of Mental Health Services Funded by the Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act 21.200.45 Third Party Review Process for a Medicaid Child or Youth 21.200.46 Dispute Resolution Process between County Department and Mental Health Agencies 21.200.47 Responsibilities of Mental Health Agencies 21.200.481 Responsibilities of the Department 21.200.482 Colorado Revised Statutes Title 27 - Behavioral Health Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act House Bill 18-1094 Title 27 Article 76 101 et. seq. Short title
27-67-101 Legislative Declaration 27-67-102 Definitions 27-67-103 Provision of mental health treatment services for children and youth 27-67-104 Monitoring - Reports 27-67-105 Funding - Rules 27-67-106 Dispute Resolution - Rules 27-67-107 Repeal of article (Repeal) 27-67-108 Child and youth mental health services standards - advisory board 27-67-109 - For CYMHTA Liaisons and Mental Health Agencies
Standardized Risk Stratification Tool
The Office of Behavioral Health has identified The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment as the standardized risk stratification tool. The Mental Health Agency shall use the CANS when evaluating a child or youth under the Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act to align with statute (C.R.S. 27-67-101, et seq). More information on the CANS Tool can be found here:
For additional behavioral health resources, including residential treatment options, please consult our list of Residential Facilities Utilizing Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents.
- Trainings, Announcements, and Resources
- CYMHTA Fact Sheet
- CYMHTA Liaison Contact List
- CYMHTA Provider List
- Memorandum: CYMHTA and Continuous Eligibility for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program)
- Memorandum: The Integration of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strength (CANS) Tool into CYMHTA
- Memorandum: Guidance Regarding the Transition of the CYMHTA from Community Mental Health Centers to the Administrative Service Organizations
- Memorandum: FFPSA and CYMHTA Assessments
- Memorandum: CYMHTA and COACT High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) Collaboration Information Memo
- CMHTA to CYMHTA Changes and Updates Effective July 1, 2018 (webinar)
For additional behavioral health resources, including residential treatment options, please consult our list of Residential Facilities Utilizing Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents.
- The Child and Youth Mental Health Service Standards Advisory Board
The Child and Youth Mental Health Service Standards Advisory Board is responsible for recommending standards and rules relevant to the provision of mental health services to children and youth. Visit the Board's website to access meeting date/times, membership, and meeting agendas/minutes.
- Annual Reports and Data Reporting