Children's mental health
About children's mental health services
In Minnesota, nine percent of school-age children and five 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. An estimated 109,000 children and youth, birth to age 21, in Minnesota need treatment for serious emotional disturbances.
With appropriate identification, evaluation and treatment, children and adolescents living with mental illness can achieve success in family life, in school and at work. However, the overwhelming majority of children with mental disorders fail to be identified and lack access to treatment and support.
Supporting mental health for all Minnesota children
The agency works to promote and support the mental health and development of all Minnesota children and youth. We are committed to services that are informed by research and that will lead to a measurable reduction in mental health symptoms and increases in strengths and functional abilities, so that children who have had challenges during their development can approach and enter adulthood as resilient, competent individuals.
Community-based services
The agency supports children’s mental health partners with grant funding. Services include:
- Collaborative Psychiatric Consultation Service
- Culturally-Specific programs
- Early Childhood Mental Health
- Evidence-Base Practices
- Mental Health Targeted Case Management
- Mobile Crisis Services
- Respite Care
- School-Linked Mental Health Services
- Screening in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems
- Crisis text line
Email:
YourOpinionMatters.DHS@state.mn.us
Address:
Elmer L. Andersen Human Services Building
540 Cedar Street
St Paul, MN 55155
Mailing address:
Behavioral Health Administration
PO Box 64977
St. Paul, MN 55164-0977
Phone: 651-431-2460
Fax: 651-431-7566
Hours of operation: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Mental health matters
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is dedicated to supporting adults, children and youth with a mental illness in their personal journey toward recovery, as well as preventing mental illness whenever possible.
People with mental illness have the same rights as anyone. The department is committed to making sure individual choice is respected and that people with mental illness are able to live, learn, work and enjoy life in their community to the best of their ability.
The department oversees a number of publicly funded programs offering community-based mental health services, creating a continuum of services designed to meet the needs of individuals.