Montana Title 52. Family Services § 52-2-302. Definitions

(1)(a) “High-risk child with multiagency service needs” means a child under 18 years of age who is seriously emotionally disturbed, who is placed or who imminently may be placed in an out-of-home setting, and who has a need for collaboration from more than one state agency in order to address the child's needs.

(b) The term does not include a child incarcerated in a correctional facility as defined in 41-5-103.

(a) within the child's family or community; or

(b) outside the child's family or community where the needed services are not available within the child's family or community and where the setting is determined to be the most appropriate alternative setting based on:

(a) emphasizes the strengths of the child and the child's family;

(b) is comprehensive and individualized; and

(c) provides for:

(a) empowers the family to take the lead in making decisions affecting the planning for support systems and services;

(b) reflects the family's values, preferences, culture, strengths, and needs;

(c) emphasizes community-based natural and informal support systems;

(d) involves collaboration among members of a team that is developed with involvement of the family and that includes agencies, providers, and others who offer support to the child and family;

(e) provides services in the least restrictive and most accessible setting possible; and

(f) contains measurable outcomes that are regularly reviewed by the team and adjusted as necessary.