COLLEGE OF

Education and Human Development

CEHD hosts Morris Policy Breakfast on the state of children’s mental health

Jessica Simacek, Rachel Freeman, Amy Esler, Megan Copeland, Marnie Werner

 

On October 28, CEHD hosted more than 60 educational leaders and policy makers for a Policy Breakfast at Oyate Hall on the campus of the University of Minnesota, Morris.

Jessica Simacek, director of the TeleOutreach Center in the Institute on Community Integration 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
  • Marnie Werner, vice president of research and operations at the Center for Rural Policy and Development
  • Megan Copeland, lead social worker for Stevens County Human Services
  • Rachel Freeman, director of state initiatives at the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota

The panel discussed the state of children’s mental health in Minnesota. It 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:

  1. Establish an ongoing council to assist in long-term planning
  2. Expand regional capacity for existing care navigation
  3. Establish a statewide infrastructure to improve communication systems, provide coordination and support to regions, and monitor the development of a unified measurement system
  4. 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
  5. Begin long-term planning and initiate short-term changes in administrative policy to improve transitions for children and adults across the lifespan

The discussion highlighted the numerous challenges and barriers impacting children’s mental health across Minnesota. However, it also showcased the impactful advocacy that is already underway to support our children. “My rose for today is that we are all coming together,” said panelist Megan Copeland. “This room is full of brilliant people that wouldn’t normally be meeting together, but we are here to discuss how we can help these children.”

Resources shared at Policy Breakfast: