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| The Children’s Mental Health Division administers policy and practice to ensure effective and accessible mental health services and supports for children and families in Minnesota. The division works together with many public and private partners across the state so that children and youth with mental health needs can develop and function as fully as possible in all areas of their lives. |
| Emotional or mental health problems can develop at any age. Many children have mental health issues that can seriously affect aspects of their lives: |
| • Studies estimate that mental health problems affect one in five young people at any given time. |
| • Many children and adolescents experience emotional disorders, such as depression, anxiety and attention-deficit, conduct and eating disorders. |
| • An estimated 91,000 children in Minnesota need treatment for emotional disturbances. |
| • In Minnesota, 9 percent of school-age children and 5 percent of preschool children have a serious emotional disturbance, which is a mental health problem that has become longer lasting and interferes significantly with the child’s functioning at home and in school. |
• Children and youth with a serious emotional disturbance experience risks related to reduced graduation rates, increased involvement with juvenile corrections and more substance abuse problems.
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| The Children’s Mental Health Division guides numerous strategic initiatives to more successfully meet and treat the needs of children struggling with or at risk for mental health issues. The division invests resources toward transforming the children’s mental health system to: |
| • Increase earlier identification and intervention |
| • Improve access to the right services at the right time |
| • Establish best practices and improve standards of care |
• Coordinate mental health care with school, medical and community environments
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| Mental health matters at every stage of life and requires an integrated continuum of services ranging from prevention to recovery. The Children’s Mental Health Division is committed to creating consistent quality, access and accountability for these services through comprehensive diagnostic assessments and evidence-based treatments that consider children’s characteristics, circumstances and culture. These efforts will result in better outcomes and reduce health care disparities among children. |
| This legislation was passed by the 2007 Legislature and signed by the governor. The initiative was based on the recommendations of the Minnesota Mental Health Action Group, builds on legislation passed in 2006 and includes $34 million in new investments over the coming biennium to continue improving the accessibility, quality and accountability of publicly funded mental health services. The 2007 legislation reintroduced several components of the 2006 legislation and includes new improvements based on recommendations from consumers, advocates, family members, counties and providers since the last legislative session. For more information about the 2007 legislation, click on the following links: |
| The Children’s Mental Health Division and Adult Mental Health Division’s joint application for the federal government Community Mental Health Services Federal Block Grant (FBG) (PL 102-321) was approved for federal fiscal years 2009-2011. The grant application describes the public mental health system in Minnesota; identifies goal targets and action plans; and describes the proposed use of the FBG. The application is updated on an annual basis. As part of the application, states must submit an annual “Implementation Report” which reports on the previous year’s utilization of the grant funds, progress toward the goal targets, and data required for the federal Universal Reporting System Basic and Developmental Tables. Public input is sought in the development and updating of the application on an ongoing basis. The 2009 application, as well as the 2008 Implementation Report, is available online. Please provide input in writing to Richard Seurer at Adult Mental Health Division, Minnesota Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 64981, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0981; or e-mail to Richard.Seurer@state.mn.us. |
| For more information about the Children’s Mental Health Division, please call: (651) 431-2321. |
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