Kansas Statutes Chapter 39. Mentally Ill, Incapacitated and Dependent Persons; Social Welfare § 39-1702. Definitions

(a) “Children and adolescents who require multiple levels and kinds of specialized services which are beyond the capability of one agency” means children and adolescents who are residents of Kansas, and with respect to whom there is documentation that: (1) Various agencies have acknowledged the need for a certain type of service and have taken action to provide that level of care; (2) various agencies have collaborated to develop a program plan to meet the needs of the child or adolescent; and (3) various agencies have collaborated to develop programs and funding to meet the need of the child or adolescent, and that existing or alternative programs and funding have been exhausted or are insufficient or inappropriate in view of the distinctive nature of the situation of the child or adolescent.

(b) “Agency” means and includes county health departments, area offices of the Kansas department for children and families or the Kansas department for aging and disability services, district offices of the department of health and environment, local offices of the department of labor, boards of education of public school districts, community mental health centers, community facilities for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, or both, district courts, county commissions and law enforcement agencies.

(c) “Authorized decision makers” means agency representatives who have the authority to commit the resources of the agency they represent in the provision of services to any child or adolescent whose needs are brought before a regional interagency council.

(d) “District court” means the chief judge for a judicial district.

(e) “Parent” means a natural parent, an adoptive parent, a stepparent, a foster care provider of a child or adolescent for whom services are needed from more than one agency or a person acting as parent of a child or adolescent for whom services are needed from more than one agency.

(f) “Person acting as parent” means a guardian or conservator, or a person, other than a parent, who is liable by law to maintain, care for or support a child or adolescent, who has actual care and custody of the child or adolescent and is contributing the major portion of the cost of support of the child or adolescent, who has actual care and control of the child or adolescent with the written consent of a person who has legal custody of the child or adolescent or who has been granted custody of the child or adolescent by a court of competent jurisdiction.