LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraskans who suffer from a combination of intellectual, behavioral and mental-health problems aren't always receiving state services that could help them.
Lawmakers looked into the problem Monday during a hearing at the Capitol, as they prepare for the 2014 session.
Some parents told lawmakers that their children qualified for services because of intellectual problems, such as a learning disorder, but weren't able to access state-funded mental health services.
Scot Adams, director of the state's Behavioral Health Division, says some states have addressed the problem by combining behavioral and mental-health services in state government. In Nebraska, they're split into different divisions within the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Adams says community service groups offer more flexibility with treatment, but aren't always as accountable.
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