DOJ found Nevada unnecessarily placed children with behavioral health disabilities in institutions; state agreed to expand home-based care
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What happened
The U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division found that Nevada violates Title II of the ADA and the Olmstead decision by unnecessarily segregating children with behavioral health disabilities in hospitals and residential treatment facilities. Its October 2022 findings cited over 1,700 children admitted for psychiatric hospital care and over 480 in residential treatment in fiscal year 2020. On January 3, 2025, DOJ announced a settlement filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, in which Nevada committed to screening and service coordination, expanded home- and community-based services (mobile crisis, respite, family therapy, wraparound), faster diversion and transition from segregated placements, and quality assurance. The parties asked the court to dismiss the complaint while retaining jurisdiction to enforce the agreement, and an independent reviewer will evaluate compliance. These are DOJ findings; no court ruled on the merits.
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