TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Most of the troubled youths diverted from psychiatric residential treatment facilities after Kansas began reviewing the screening process for the homes have received some type of mental health service, a state official testified during a joint hearing of two state House committees following up on the matter.

The SRS began reviewing residential treatment screenings last June amid concerns that the facilities, which are meant to treat children with psychiatric conditions, also were admitting those with other conditions, such as mental retardation, autism and drug addiction.

Of the 220 youths ordered diverted from residential care from July through this month, 25 appealed the decision and 12 appeals succeeded, Gary Haulmark, the acting deputy secretary of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, told the lawmakers Thursday. He said of the remaining 195 youths, all but 33 received some sort of community-based mental health services, while 14 of those 33 ended up in a residential facility within 30 days of diversion, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported (http://bit.ly/ApeM4b ).

The committees also heard from Linda Davis, of Manhattan, who said her grandson attacked her in their home after he was twice denied admittance to a residential facility in favor of home-based services. He pleaded guilty to sexual battery and the juvenile justice system arranged for him to receive residential facility treatment.

"Our family is exhausted and traumatized," Davis said. "We have been urged repeatedly over the years to just give up custody. But we acted responsibly, caring for our child ourselves. We asked for help only when we truly needed it, and then we didn't get it."

She said her grandson, who has three mental disorders, was making progress in his third residential treatment facility when the new screening measures were enacted.

"Then, at that critical point, because of a change in state policy driven by finances, (he) did not screen for an extension of stay at the PRTF," Davis said. "There was no option except for him to come home."

After spending nine days in a private psychiatric facility, he was sent home, where his behavior steadily declined.

Davis said that after a trip to the emergency room, hospital officials described her grandson as "psychotic, delusional and aggressive," however he again was denied admission to a residential facility and sent home. Less than a week later, he attacked his grandmother.

"People say 'the system is broken,"' Davis said. "But I don't think 'system' is the right word for the assortment of agencies in Kansas that all seem to have the motto, 'It's not our department."'

Michael Hammond, executive director of the Association for Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, said some children fall through cracks in the system and he would look into Davis' case. But he said SRS reviews showed mental health centers generally are making the correct decisions and delivering appropriate services. He also noted that the system lost nearly $60 million in funding since 2007, including $38 million from the state general fund.

"The Legislature and policymakers need to understand there are consequences when you make budget cuts," Hammond said. "For our system, that means less care is going to be provided. That means some people may go without access to care. It's very unfortunate, but it is a reality when policymakers make budget decisions, you have to expect there will be negative outcomes."

------

Information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com