Children's Mental Health

Case Management

Children and adolescents can have mental health disorders that impact their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Mower County provides services to children with mental health conditions based on criteria determined by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Eligibility is determined by the results of a Diagnostic Assessment by a mental health professional. The assessment looks at the history of the child's mental health issues, important developmental incidents, and areas of strength and vulnerability. Children's mental health services are requested by parents/guardians and are voluntary.

Case Manager Role

The role of a Children's Mental Health case manager is to assess, plan, monitor, and coordinate services for a child. Children's mental health services are aimed at supporting and improving children's emotional well-being and development, their relationships with family and friends, and their ability to get along with others and function effectively at home, in school, and in the community.

Your child may be experiencing a wide range of struggles due to their mental health issues. These can include:

  • Problems getting along with peers or adults
  • Controlling anger or aggression
  • Managing worries or other troubling thoughts or feelings
  • Being able to pay attention or focus
  • Feeling sad or worthless
  • Engaging in risky or self-injurious behavior
  • Coping with significant losses, or traumas

Struggles can also relate to major life events and changes that significantly impact their lives.

Determining Eligibility

For purposes of eligibility for case management and family community support services, "child with severe emotional disturbance" means a child who has an emotional disturbance and who meets one of the following criteria as determined by a mental health professional:

  1. The child 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
  2. The child is a Minnesota resident and is receiving inpatient treatment or residential treatment for an emotional disturbance through the interstate compact; or
  3. The child has one of the following as determined by a mental health professional: psychosis or a clinical depression, risk of harming self or others as a result of an emotional disturbance, or psychopathological symptoms as a result of being a victim of physical or sexual abuse or of psychic trauma within the past year.
  4. The child, as a result of an emotional disturbance, has significantly impaired home, school, or community functioning that has lasted at least one year or that, in the written opinion of a mental health professional, presents substantial risk of lasting at least one year.

For More Information

For more information about Children's Mental Health Services, contact us by email.

Children's Mental Health Referral Form