1. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Juvenile Justice 21
Bill Wyss MPA| Deputy Director, Children’s Mental Health |Mental Health Division, Community Supports Administration
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

2. Children’s Mental Health Services
Comprehensive Children’s Mental Health Act 1989
“the legislature finds there is a need for further development of existing clinical services for emotionally disturbed children and their families…..”
“the commissioner of human services shall create and ensure a unified, accountable, comprehensive children’s mental health system……”
State administered and county delivery system
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

3. Children’s Mental Health Services
Counties have a responsibility to develop a local system of children’s mental health services
"The county board must develop a system of affordable and locally available children’s mental health services….”
Prepaid Medical Assistance Program – DHS contracts with health plans to deliver children’s mental health Medicaid Services
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

4. Children’s Mental Health Services Funding Sources
Federal Medicaid and state share the cost
Minnesota has a robust set of children’s mental health Medicaid Services
State legislative funded children’s mental health grants (School Mental Health Grants)
Federal block grant funds
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

5. Children’s Mental Health Services Eligibility Determination
Some services require no mental health diagnosis, such as prevention services
Some services require a mental health diagnosis as a emotional disturbance, such as rehabilitation services
Some services require a designation of severe emotional disturbance as defined in the Children’s Mental Health Act (i.e., case management and residential treatment)
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

6. Children’s Mental Health Prevention Services
Services to all children with or without mental health issues
Early Childhood Screening:
Public Schools - Head Start (0-5)
Public Health - Follow Along Program (0-3)
Child and Teen Check Up (0-21)
Public Health Home Visits
Text4Life
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

7. Children’s Mental Health Early Intervention Services
Services for children at risk for mental health issues but do not qualify for a diagnosis
Mental Health Screening
Juvenile justice and child welfare
Crisis Response Services
School-Based Diversion Model for Students with Co- Occurring Disorders .
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

8. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Minnesota Model of School-Based Diversion for Students with Co-Occurring Disorders
Practice of pushing kids out of school and toward the juvenile and criminal justice systems has become known as the “school-to-prison pipeline” public policy issue
The school-to-prison pipeline issue is a critical national and state public policy concern that requires analysis and solutions for children and their families
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

9. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
MN Model Background
Policies and practice that force at-risk students out of the classroom and into the juvenile justice system is having negative consequences, especially for students of color, the poor and those with disabilities
Excessive practices result in suspensions, expulsions, and arrests of tens of millions of public school students, especially students of color and those with disabilities
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

10. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
MN Model Background
Perhaps the most troubling form of exclusionary discipline is school-based arrest
School violence is at its lowest level since 1992, but in- school arrests are an increasingly common phenomenon
School discipline has been found to be more punitive and severe for youth of color even when the behaviors are the same and other socio-demographic factors are controlled
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

11. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
MN Model Background
A suspension can be life altering
It is the number-one predictor whether children will drop out of school
Far too many situations where teachers are being assaulted
Provide relevant tools to educators and communities that will avoid frequent use of harmful discipline
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

12. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Minnesota Model
Vision of Minnesota’s Model is hope and support to keep students in school and out of the juvenile justice system
leading and partnering with others to plan and implement the model
evaluate the model to ensure access to co- occurring treatment services
reduce disparities in the juvenile justice system
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

13. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Minnesota Model
Assist schools and partners to become more selective about making referrals to the juvenile justice system and develop school- and community based alternatives for addressing student behavioral incidents
Provides a blueprint for shared decision-making, new partnerships and alternatives that keep students in school and out of the juvenile justice system
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

14. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Minnesota Model
School-based practices to reduce punitive measures that are more supportive and restorative
School-based reform address the underlying mental health and substance abuse needs of youth who are at- risk of juvenile justice involvement
Schools need linkages to community-based resources particularly crisis response and mental health services which can be effective alternatives to law enforcement involvement
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

15. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Student Incidents
Schools frame behavioral incidents in lay language rather than criminal language
Creates a decriminalized language to describe adolescent behavior
Schools must create and agree on list of behaviors
Consult with law enforcement or legal council to distinguish non-serious and serious student incidents
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

16. Responses to Student Incidents
Three possible responses to student incidents
Inform Parents Only
Refer to School Case Conference or Behavior Support Team
Refer to School Resource Officer/Law Enforcement
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

17. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Inform Parent Only
Response recognizes many minor incidents can quickly be resolved with little formal processing
Notify parent
Document response for purpose of program monitoring
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

18. School Case Conference
Diverse group including parents, students, school administrators, SROs, guidance counselors, school psychologists and other school staff come together to review the incident and response
Arrange for additional screening and assessment as needed
Implement restorative practices
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

19. Refer to School Resource Officer Law Enforcement
Called for serious incidents
Consult for the criminality of the incident
Officers will exercise judgement to determine arrest or diversion
Arrest student and refer to county attorney for disposition decision
Consult and involve in non-serious incidents
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

20. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Next Steps
Pilot the Minnesota Model with legislative funding
Reviewing RFPs to hire a vendor
Select schools through RFP process
Evaluate fidelity of Model
Promote statewide practice
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

21. Children’s Mental Health Interventions Services
Services for children with mental health issues who qualify for a mental health diagnosis and function within their community
Outpatient Mental Health Services
Psychotherapy
Neuropsychological services
Mental health medication management
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

22. Children’s Mental Health Interventions Services
Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS)
Psychotherapy
Skills Training
First Episode Psychosis Services
Children’s Mental Health & Family Services Collaboratives (also prevention and early intervention)
Multidisciplinary Teams (child welfare/school IEP teams)
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

23. Children’s Mental Health Intensive Intervention Services
Services for children with severe mental health issues who qualify for a mental health diagnosis and do not function well in their community
Children’s Partial Hospitalization Program
Youth Assertive Community Treatment
Intensive Treatment Services in Foster Care
Respite Care *
Mental Health Targeted Case Management *
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

24. Children’s Mental Health Residential/Inpatient Services
Services for children with severe mental health issues who qualify for a mental health diagnosis and do not function well in their community and in a 24 hour treatment program
Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalization (extended beds) *
Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services (CABHS)
Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF) *
Children’s Mental Health Residential Treatment
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

25. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
State Advisory Council on Mental Health and Subcommittee on Children’s Mental Health
Develop a coordinated system for children involved in the juvenile justice system under one state authority
Ensure the system is accountable for providing the needs of children involved in the juvenile justice system
Improve the children’s mental health screening tools for children involved in the juvenile justice system to better assess if the child has experienced childhood trauma
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

26. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
State Advisory Council on Mental Health and Subcommittee on Children’s Mental Health
Develop a new specialized level of care to address the needs of children experiencing high emotional dysregulation and aggression outside of a correctional setting
State study and produce a report with recommendations regarding the increase in aggressive behaviors and emotional dysregulation in children and youth under 16
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

27. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration System of Care Grant
Improve behavioral health outcomes for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families
Up to 12 million dollars for 4 years
Develop new and enhanced services, a no wrong door approach and a state agency coordinated approach
Minnesota Department’s of Human Services, Corrections, Health and Education, 36 counties and Fond du Lac
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

28. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration System of Care Grant
Lack of continuity of services for children and youth who move between multiple systems, including child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health and education
Where children enter the system often defines available services and associated funding
Lack of early and system identification and intensive treatment services for children and families
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

29. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration System of Care Grant
Develop a better structure to promote interagency collaboration and service delivery at state level
Develop a policy framework and finance reform to reduce barriers
Access to intensive treatment services and supports at any point of entry to the system
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

30. Children’s Mental Health Goals
Increase access and improve statewide continuum of care to meet the needs of children with mental health needs and their families
Develop and enforce standards to improve quality and consistency of care statewide
Work to eliminate mental health and wellness disparities statewide
Develop capacity to measure mental health outcomes to increase accountability for Minnesota’s children and families
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

31. Children’s Mental Health Mission
“Promote Mental Wellness and Resiliency for all Minnesota’s Children and Families” Children’s Mental Health Team
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs

32. Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs
Bill Wyss
Minnesota Department of Human Services | mn.gov/dhs