CEHD hosts Policy Breakfast on the state of children’s mental health
On January 7, CEHD hosted more than 200 educational and clinical leaders and policymakers for a Policy Breakfast at McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus.
Jessica Simacek, director of the TeleOutreach Center in the Institute on Community Integration (ICI) and the TeleOutreach Service Hub at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB) at the University of Minnesota, moderated a panel of experts, including:
- Amy Esler, licensed psychologist, and researcher at MIDB
- Danelle Dunphy, adjunct professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of Minnesota, consultant for ICI, and a practicing therapist for Behavioral Services, Inc.
- Faith Miller, associate professor of school psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota
- Kirsten Anderson, executive director of AspireMN
- Rachel Freeman, director of state initiatives at ICI at the University of Minnesota
The discussion highlighted the numerous challenges and barriers impacting children’s mental health across Minnesota. Beginning in 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association jointly declared a state of emergency in children and adolescent mental health, including an increase in hospitalizations for psychiatric needs (American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP-AACAP-CHA, 2022; Overhage et al., 2024). This challenge persists today, as providers struggle to keep up with the increased prevalence of needs.
Another barrier discussed was equity in care access. Providers and systems do not adequately meet the needs of people in cultural, racial, and linguistically diverse communities, leaving underserved populations facing disparities in access to care.
After highlighting these challenges, the panel identified and expanded upon recommendations that were released in early October from the Department of Human Services-formed Acute Care Transitions Advisory Council.
The recommendations include:
- Establish an ongoing council to assist in long-term planning
- Expand regional capacity for existing care navigation
- Establish a statewide infrastructure to improve communication systems, provide coordination and support to regions, and monitor the development of a unified measurement system
- Integrate measurement systems to monitor and evaluate geographic, racial, and ethnic disparities and coordinate with existing statewide health equity systems on change efforts in Minnesota
- Begin long-term planning and initiate short-term changes in administrative policy to improve transitions for children and adults across the lifespan
The panel also recommended strategies to support and build the capacity of the current provider workforce and to increase the pipeline of future providers; telehealth, remote, and virtual care options; availability of care navigation across multiple systems and services; and the integration of services into primary care and school-based models. A critical need to increase the reimbursement rates for mental health services was identified as a top priority.
Despite the overwhelming challenges regarding children’s mental health in Minnesota, this Policy Breakfast showcased the impactful advocacy and evidence-grounded promising practices that are underway to support children throughout Minnesota. Organizations are working to address immediate needs in addition to laying the groundwork for sustainable, long-term solutions.
The Policy Breakfast concluded with table discussions, where attendees explored questions and shared ideas on ways to better support Minnesota’s children struggling with mental health. The collaboration in these discussions reflected a shared commitment to meaningful progress, as hundreds of educational leaders, policymakers, and community advocates came together to address this critical issue. The display of collective action left attendees inspired and motivated to continue driving changes that will positively impact children and families across the state.