Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-271 (2026)
Definitions
In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Dually adjudicated child" means a child who is found to be dependent or temporarily subject to court jurisdiction pending an adjudication of a dependency petition and who is alleged or found to have committed a delinquent or incorrigible act.
2. "Entity" means the department of child safety, the department of juvenile corrections or a child welfare agency that has been granted legal care, custody and control of a child by order of the juvenile court and that is responsible for securing inpatient psychiatric acute care services or residential treatment services for a child. Entity includes a probation department or juvenile detention center that either recommends or is ordered by the court to provide inpatient psychiatric acute care services or residential treatment services for a child.
3. "Inpatient assessment" includes all of the following:
(a) The observation of a child's behavior while the child is in an inpatient assessment facility.
(b) Psychological or psychiatric testing, if indicated.
(c) A determination as to whether a child needs inpatient psychiatric acute care services and whether inpatient psychiatric acute care services are the least restrictive available alternative.
(d) The administration of psychotropic medication and medication monitoring, if necessary to complete the assessment or to prevent the child from being a danger to self or others.
(e) A written report that summarizes the results of an inpatient assessment, including specific recommendations for follow-up care.
(f) A psychiatric or psychological assessment, including a clinical interview with a child.
(g) An explanation to a child of the least restrictive alternatives available to meet the child's mental health needs.
(h) A determination as to whether the child may be suffering from a mental disorder, is a danger to self or others or is a child with a persistent or acute disability or grave disability, as defined in section 36-501.
(i) A review of a child's medical, social and psychological records, if available.
4. "Level one behavioral health facility" means a behavioral health service agency that is licensed by the department of health services and that provides a structured treatment setting with twenty-four hour a day supervision and an intensive treatment program.
5. "Outpatient assessment" includes all of the following:
(a) A psychiatric or psychological assessment, including a clinical interview with a child.
(b) An explanation to a child of the least restrictive alternatives available to meet the child's mental health needs if determined at the time of the assessment.
(c) A determination as to whether the child may be suffering from a mental disorder, is a danger to self or others or is a child with a persistent or acute disability or grave disability.
(d) A review of a child's medical, social and psychological records, if available.
(e) A determination as to whether the child needs an inpatient assessment or inpatient psychiatric acute care services and whether an inpatient assessment or inpatient psychiatric acute care services are the least restrictive available alternative.
6. "Physician" means a person who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17.
7. "Psychiatric acute care facility" or "inpatient assessment facility" means a facility that is licensed by the department of health services as a level one behavioral health facility and that provides psychiatric acute care services.
8. "Psychiatric acute care services" means any of the following:
(a) Emergency or crisis behavioral health services.
(b) Psychiatric and psychological assessments and short-term intensive behavioral health counseling and treatment for acute episodes or mental disorders.
(c) Medication stabilization and twenty-four hour a day nursing care for a child who suffers from acute psychiatric or mental disorders or who needs to have a chronic mental illness stabilized.
9. "Psychiatrist" means a person who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17.
10. "Psychologist" means a person who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 19.1.
11. "Residential treatment services" means services, other than psychiatric acute care services, that are provided by a level one behavioral health facility.