Division of Policy and Legislation

Policy

The Division of Policy and Legislation (DPL) oversees and coordinates general mental health policy development and implementation throughout the department and for service areas. The responsibility for the development of public mental health policy is accomplished through staff assigned to the various stages of development and include:

• Departmental interface with the General Assembly;
  
• The provision of programmatic support for community contract management, grant applications and program monitoring;
  
• Conducting research to support decision making and evaluation of services;
  
• Oversight of outpatient and inpatient forensic and juvenile court evaluations;
  
• Oversight of criminal justice issues and the interface with mental health services in the jails through the Criminal Justice and Mental Health Interface (Liaison Project);
  
• Provision of consumer advocacy, support, complaint resolution and inclusion of consumer input into all departmental activities.