The next meeting of the Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee will be held on Jan. 26 and 27 in room 152 of the State Capitol Building.

Today's meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m.; Friday's meeting will begin at 8 a.m.

Today's morning session will be spent on Department of Health and Human Services' monitoring duties including a director's report and administrative rule issues for licensure of day care facilities, immunization and day care facilities, and outpatient crisis response facilities licensure.

The afternoon session is dedicated to the SJ 41 study on mental health crisis response. Both adult and children's services will be covered.

Joyce DeCunzo, division administrator, will present an array of proposals that are being considered for the executive planning process and there will be presentations from various communities on their crisis response.

Pete Surdock, bureau chief, will inform the committee of the status of the children's mental health system, including the system of care, kid's management authorities, and thoughts on crisis response for children.

Friday's meeting is dedicated to the SJ 37 study on child protective services with presentations on legal rights and responsibilities, workforce and training issues, foster parents recruitment and retention, and prevention.

Public comment will be taken on both days.

You can link to the agenda and meeting materials and minutes from past meetings on the committee's website: http://leg.state.mt.us/css/committees/interim/2005_2006/child_fam/default.asp or http://leg.state.mt.us/css/committees/interim/2005_2006/child_fam/default.asp

For more information, contact Susan Byorth Fox at (406) 444-3597 or sfox@mt.gov.