Mental Health Services for Children and Youth
Children's Mental Health
All children have both physical health needs and mental health needs. It is sometimes hard for parents to know if a behavior is normal or may be a deeper problem.
Anger, fear, sadness, withdrawal, or opposition to authority are emotions felt and expressed by most children and adolescents. The disturbed child or adolescent displays negative behavior with greater intensity, more often, and with less reason. Behaviors with may point to deeper problems include:
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Acting out behavior (self-abusive, aggressive, violent, disruptive, or cruel)
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Withdrawing behavior (fears, depression, anxiety, refusing to talk, acting younger than age)
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Defensive behavior (lying, cheating, manipulating others, avoiding others)
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Disorganized behavior (out of touch with reality, seeing or hearing things that are not there, disconnected thinking or acting)
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Eating disorders (poor body image, preoccupation with weight loss, self-induced vomiting or use of laxatives or diuretics)
Comprehensive Services for Children and Families
The "Minnesota Comprehensive Children's Mental Health Act" recognized that children do not always get the services they need. Stearns County Human Services Agency provides case management services to assist eligible children and their families. The case manager will assist in a referral for a diagnostic assessment to determine the child's mental health needs. A team approach is used to coordinate the services provided by all persons who are involved in the care, counseling, education, and treatment of the child.
Parents will be expected to participate in developing a comprehensive plan based on the child's and family's unique strengths and needs. This plan will be reviewed on a regular basis to determine if the goals for the child are being met and if other services are needed.
Case management and family community support services are voluntary, and may be accepted or refused by parents. If these services are refused, other mental health services and community resources continue to be available to the family if desired.
Available Services
A variety of services are available and MAY be provided based on the individual needs of the child and family. They include:
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Individual Case Coordination and Case Management
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Diagnostic Assessment and Evaluation
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Psychological Testing
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Educational Consultation and Individual Educational Planning
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Intensive Family-Based Therapy
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Respite Care Services
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Crisis Assistance
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Coordinated Treatment Planning
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Advocacy for Child and Family
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Financial Assistance Referrals
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Court Intervention Services
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Vocational Services
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Information and Referral
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Parent Support Group
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Medication Monitoring
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Development of Independent Living Skills
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Assistance with Leisure and Recreational Activities
Program Eligibility
Children or adolescents must be younger than 18 years of age, have a defined emotional or behavioral problem, and meet the criteria for having a severe emotional disturbance as determined by a mental health professional. Factors which determine eligibility include:
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Severity of mental health needs
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Past inpatient or residential treatment, or risk of needing such treatment in the future
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Risk of child harming self or others
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Symptoms as a result of physical or sexual abuse in the past year
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Effects on the child's functioning in the home, school, and community
For More Information
If you are concerned about the development or mental health of a child and would like more information, contact:
Service Entry Unit
Stearns County Human Services
P.O. Box 1107
St. Cloud, MN 56302
320.656.6225 or 1.800.450.3663
For more information about specific children's mental health disorders, please see the Minnesota Department of Human Services site, which includes links to helpful documents in several languages.
Also, please see Minnesota Statutes 245.487 on Children's Mental Health.
Community Agencies
There are a a variety of community agencies which may be involved as part of the treatment team in addition to the parents, child, and case manager. These agencies are:
Central Minnesota Mental Health Center
320.252.5010
Stearns County Family Services Collaborative
320.252.4561
St. Cloud Hospital - Behavioral Health
320.255.5777
Caritas Family Services
320.650.1660
Lutheran Social Services
320.251.7700
STARS for Children's Mental Health
763.271.5322 or 877.333.0083
For more information on children's mental health, please visit the following links:
Minnesota Department of Human Services
STARS for Children's Mental Health
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health
This information is available in other forms to people with disabilities by calling 320.656.6000, 320.656.6204 (TDD), or through the Minnesota Relay Services at 1.800.627.3529 (TTY).