Once an Application for Involuntary Evaluation is filled out by an individual (that meets the criteria detailed in Step 1) it must be signed by a notary before being submitted to a screening agency.  Screening agencies, also known as Behavioral Health Agencies, and their satellite offices are located throughout the State of Arizona.

Before traveling to an agency, call to see if they accept applications and if they have an office nearby.

If it is an emergency or after hours situation, an Application for Emergency Admission may also be filed at most hospital emergency rooms.  You and the applicant would need to appear at the hospital. Be ready to provide the facts as to why you believe the individual qualifies for emergency admission, as detailed in Step 1.

So I turned in my Application for Involuntary Evaluation, now what happens?

1. After an Application for Involuntary Evaluation has been filed with a behavioral health agency, the agency has 48 hours to conduct a pre-petition screening.
   • This 48 hours does not include weekends or holidays, so if a application is submitted on a Friday, the agency has until the following Tuesday to complete the screening. 
2. The individual is assigned a case worker by the screening agency.
3. The case worker meets with the proposed patient to determine if they should be further evaluated.  They go to the patient or even will video confence in if that is a possibility.  Examples of things under consideration are:
   • Where do they live and are they able to provide for their basic needs?
   • What is the IQ of the individual?
   • Do they listen to and follow directions?
   • Are they willing to take medication?
   • Is it possible that the person is addicted to drugs or alcohol and needs to detox?
   • Will they voluntarily take part in improving their behavioral health situation?

What if I filed an emergency application?

If you filed an emergency application, because the proposed patient is a danger to themselves or others, the pre-petition screening takes place at the emergency room or crisis center.  Due to the immediate danger the person is in, there is not enough time to go through the process above.  If the person is in the community, because they would not or could not be taken to a facility, local law enforcement will try to find the person and bring them to a crisis center, emergency room, or hospital as soon as possible.  Once at a facility, the psychiatrist will complete the screening and decide whether to go forward with the petition for evaluation.

What are they looking for in a pre-petition screening?

In a pre-petition screening a person is examined to see if they meet the criteria for:

• Danger to self
• Danger to others
• Persistently or acutely disabled
• Gravely disabled

A trained professional will observe the speech and behaviors of the individual to see if the application is valid. They may also take into consideration environmental factors, such as living conditions, as part of their considerations.

If at any point in the screening they feel like the person does not need treatment, they will be discharged.  The screening will also end if the person agrees to voluntary treatment at any time.

If the person conducting the screening suspects substance abuse, not a mental health issue, the screener may wait for 24 hours to see if the person detoxes.  If the person detoxes and does not show signs of mental illness, the application gets dropped - since substance abuse does not fall under Title 36.

What happens after they complete the pre-petition screening?

Once the behavioral health agency conducts their screening, they will determine whether or not a person meets the criteria for involuntary treatment. One of four things may then take place:

1. If they believe that a person may be eligible for involuntary treatment, they will file an Application for Court Ordered Evaluation with the court. If approved, an order is sent to local law enforcement to bring the person to the hospital for court ordered evaluation.
2. During the screening, if the agency professional finds that they are an immediate threat to themselves or others, an Emergency Admission for Evaluation may be necessary.
3. It is not unusual for the proposed patient to agree to voluntary treatment during the course of the pre-petition screening.  The patient would then be connected to voluntary treatment either in the hospital or as an outpatient, and there is no need for a petition for evaluation or court hearing.
4. If they believe that the individual does not meet the requirements for Court Ordered Evaluation, they will deny the application.

Resources

Behavioral Health Agencies

Screening Applications

Statute: A.R.S. § 36-531(B)