Behavioral Health Services
Children’s Mental Health Services
Mental health in childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. Sometimes children struggle to meet these milestones. Mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, which cause distress and problems getting through the day. Many children occasionally experience fears and worries or display disruptive behaviors. If symptoms are serious and persistent and interfere with school, home, or play activities, the child may be diagnosed with a mental disorder. Cook County Public Health and Human Services is a confidential and experienced source of support to you if you are concerned about your child’s mental health.
Children’s Mental Health Services include:
See Eligibility for more information about who can receive services.
Screening and Intake
All requests for county assistance or services for Children’s Mental Health services start with a call to an Intake Social Worker at 218-387-3620 and ask to speak to an intake worker.
An intake social worker will talk with you about your child’s needs and provide you with information on both community resources and the application process for voluntary county services.
Children’s Mental Health (CMH) services are voluntary and must be requested by a parent or legal guardian. The Cook County Intake Social Worker will ask you a variety of questions, including:
What are your concerns regarding your child’s mental health?
- What behaviors have been observed by parents or others?
- What services have been tried so far?
Cook County Children’s Mental Health social workers first look to appropriate community-based resources to meet a family’s needs. If a child has health insurance that covers mental health services, a referral may be made to the provider(s) of the family’s choice. In some cases, this might be all the help needed by a family. However, if more intensive services are needed, the intake social worker will gather additional information through a formal intake process, often meeting with the family in their home.
For more information, call Cook County Intake at 218-387-3620.
Diagnostic Assessment
A diagnostic assessment is defined by State Statute, MN Statute 245.4871, Subd.11. as a written evaluation by a mental health professional that includes:
- The child’s current life situation, including sources of stress and reasons for referral to services
- The history of the child’s current mental health problem or problems, including important developmental incidents, strengths, and vulnerabilities
- The child’s current functioning and mental health symptoms
- The child’s mental health diagnoses, including a determination of whether the child meets the criteria for a severe emotional disturbance
- The mental health services needed by a child (including case management services)
A current diagnostic assessment (completed within the last 180 days) is required if you wish to receive specific CMH services. For more information on where and how to obtain a diagnostic assessment, call Cook County Intake at 218-387-3620.
Case Management
County case management services help families assess their child’s mental health needs develop a plan to meet those needs, assist children and families in arranging needed therapeutic and supportive services. provide support and assistance connecting with school staff and applying for resources. The Children’s Mental Health case manager will regularly meet with families to assess the appropriateness, delivery, and effectiveness of services over time.
For more information, call Cook County Social Services Intake at 218-387-3620.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Children’s Mental Health Services, a child must be a resident of Cook County and under the age of 18. A current (within the last 180 days) diagnostic assessment determines the level of care that a child will receive. As noted above, this diagnostic assessment may be completed by a mental health professional of your choosing.
Children with a severe emotional disturbance may be eligible for an array of therapeutic and supportive mental health services, including case management. “Severe emotional disturbance” is defined by Minnesota Statute, MN Statute 245.4871,Subd.6., and includes:
- A child diagnosed with psychosis or clinical depression
- A child at risk of harming themselves or others as a result of an emotional disturbance
- A child that has been admitted within the last three years or is at risk of being admitted to inpatient treatment or residential treatment for an emotional disturbance
- A child who, as the result of an emotional disturbance, has significantly impaired home, school, or community functioning that has lasted (or will likely last) more than one year
Adult Mental Health Services
If you or someone you care about has a mental health diagnosis, you are not alone. Just like a person with a physical health struggle such as asthma and diabetes need regular support, so do people who have a mental health diagnosis such as depression or bipolar disorder.
Adult Mental Health Services Include:
Intake
All requests for county assistance or Adult Mental Health services start with a call to a Social Worker. Call 218-387-3620 and ask to speak to an intake worker. The intake worker will ask you questions about how you or the person you are concerned are doing including:
- Is this an emergency? Do you need help right now?
- What symptoms or behaviors are you concerned about?
- What has helped in the past?
Referral for Diagnostic Assessments
A diagnostic assessment is a clinical evaluation provided by a licensed professional to gather information to determine appropriate treatment based on the initial problem, current mental status, and the diagnostic impression.
A diagnostic assessment can be conducted in person or via telehealth. The mental health professional will ask you questions to learn more about your needs and connect with you to the best resource including a physician or psychiatrist so that medications can be prescribed, if appropriate.
Case Management
A case manager is a Cook County social worker who is assigned to help you set and reach your goals and coordinate your behavioral health treatment plan. The social worker is not a therapist or behavioral health care provider, but they can help you take full advantage of your treatments and be successful at home and in your community. Case managers provide ongoing support through telephone contacts and face-to-face visits in the community. Most mental health case management services are provided on a voluntary basis
If you qualify for case management, you must agree to meet with your social worker at least once a month. That meeting usually takes place in your home.
If you have questions about getting a case manager, call 218-387-3620 and ask for the intake social worker.
Mental Health Resources Website