Legal Division

The Legal Division is organized as a division of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD).

The purpose of the Legal Division is to establish and maintain as an integrated group, members of the legal profession who are legal advisors to state mental health program directors, and others who provide legal liaison for state mental health program directors, to provide an opportunity for the exchange of information and ideas concerning mental health law; to improve professional responsibility and expertise with the study, discussion, resolution, collection, and dissemination of ideas, information, data, conclusions, and solutions with respect to the legal problems common to the field of mental health.

Meeting Presentations

2007

Presentations from the Legal Division 2007 Annual Meeting held October 21-24 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Interstate Compact Coordinators
Organization

 INTRODUCTION

The Interstate Compact Coordinators Organization is an affiliate of the Legal Division of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD).  Many states were and still are faced with the challenge of providing an array of mental health services in accordance with state and federal mandates and to do so in a cost effective manner.  As a result of these state and federal mandates the Interstate Compact on Mental Health and Mental Retardation was enacted by governing bodies of States who chose to be members.  The first State to ratify the Compact was Connecticut in 1955.  Today, there are forty-five states and the District of Columbia who are members of the Compact. 

BACKGROUND

The Interstate Compact provides an opportunity for member states to provide a vehicle for transferring persons between states for continued treatment, returning a committed person to their state of residency when the individual left a state operated facility on an unauthorized absence, as well as to establish residency in the receiving state.  Over the last fifty years, the Compact has proven to be an effective tool to secure clinically appropriate services for the people we serve and their families.

The purpose of the Interstate Compact Coordinators Organization is to provide implementation and maintenance of the Interstate Compact as adopted by the participating states through the establishment of a cohesive organization.  Each state legislative body enacted laws giving authority to the Interstate Compact Administrator/Coordinator to handle all interstate matters.  The designated Coordinator acts as the General Coordinator of Activities under the Compact in his/her respective state (sending or receiving).

OFFICERS AND REGIONAL COORDINATORS

The officers of the Interstate Compact Coordinators Organization consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary.  In addition, there are four Regional Coordinators who are responsible for fostering and promoting communication of information and ideas between the newly elected and established Coordinators within his/her region.

For more information, e-mail us at info@nasmhpd.org.

Member Search

To search our overall membership directory for Legal Division members, click here.

Leadership

Chairperson:
Cynthia Tyler (TN)

NASMHPD Commissioner Advisor:
Vacant

NASMHPD Division Administrator:
Roy E. Praschil
Director of Operations
NASMHPD
66 Canal Center Plaza,
Suite 302
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703-739-9333
Fax: 703-548-9517
roy.praschil@nasmhpd.org