Treatment of Minors

Purpose: Obtaining legal consent for child and adolescent psychiatric evaluations, medical, and counseling treatment.

Policy: Decisions about psychiatric, other behavioral health and medical care must be made by the child's legal guardian(s), who must be physically present to provide consent, have an opportunity to be fully informed of the evaluation process, be provided with an opportunity to ask questions, and in order for identity to be verified. In the situation of a parental separation or divorce (except in the case of one parent having sole physical and legal custody), both guardians have a right to consent and decline treatment and both parents are invited and encouraged (as they are able to) participate in the process of evaluation and treatment. If one parent retains sole physical and legal custody, this guardian MUST provide legal documentation of this in order for the psychiatric evaluation to occur as scheduled if the other guardian is declining services. Guardians have a legal right to medical records.

If services are being rendered to minors, please also provide with forms minor's birth certificate and parental ID to ensure the parents/guardians are requesting the services. If legal documents state one parent is sole guardian please provide these documents as well with enrollment forms.

Even in the case where one guardian has "final decision making" both guardians have a right to consent to treatment or deny treatment when on the court documents custody is granted to both guardians. Final decision making does not mean the guardian without final decision making is left out of treatment decisions.

At intake of a minor we will require: 

  • Guardian Drivers License

  • Insurance Card (if AHCCCS we can bypass this and view in the AHCCCS portal)

  • Minor birth certificate

  • Signed consents by at least one guardian

  • If there is legal court documentation signed by a judge that states specific treatment or custody arrangements that means one parent can be left out of treatment by the other parent copies of this documentation needs to be provided in its entirety. 

  • If one guardian signs only and there is another legal guardian this guardian has a right to medical records if requested. Also either guardian can deny treatment at any time and determine length of treatment. If one guardian wants treatment and the other does not then treatment cannot start or continue, referrals will be offered, and treatment will pause or end.