Improving Access: Past Events and Activities

A CEHD Policy Breakfast at McNamara Alumni Center.

CEHD Policy Breakfast Series: The State of Children's Mental Health in Minnesota

January 7, 2025

Cunningham, ICI Staff Spotlight Urgent Mental Health Needs

Southern Minnesota Focused Project ECHO®: Telehealth to Support Families of Children with Behavioral Health and Mental Health Needs

Project ECHO® Flyer PDF

Hear from and share with U of M Hub Team members in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Social Work, Early Childhood Intervention and Special Education. This series is open to all, but is likely most relevant to primary care, pediatric, behavioral health, mental health, and educational providers in South East Minnesota.

When: Thursdays, 12-1 p.m. CST May 2–July 25

Who: Join the University of Minnesota, Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain Hub for didactic and case based learning Opportunities.

Register: ECHO series free registration

Contact: tele4families@umn.edu with questions.

Topics to be covered include:

  1. Primary Care Assessment: Co-occurring Medical Considerations/Overshadowing
  2. Behavioral Disorders (Seizure Disorder, Medications, Sleeping, Eating, Pain)
  3. Supporting Children and Youth with Challenging Behavior
  4. Mood Disorders
  5. Hyper Activity Attention Disorder
  6. Autism Spectrum Disorder
  7. Navigating Special Education and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
  8. Supporting Healthy Brain Development
  9. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
  10. Anxiety Disorders
  11. ACEs, historical trauma, and trauma-Informed supports.

A diverse group of adults sit, listen, and smile. They are casually dressed. The speaker is not visible.

Studying Service Quality Issues and Shortages of Providers, and Expanding Access to Waiver Intervention and Respite Services

This project surveys community providers, data sources, and community partners to assess the current barriers to meeting the needs and expanding service access for people with co-occurring behavioral health conditions and disabilities. These barriers directly affect the quality of life. The project has developed and is distributing a survey to community partners (emphasizing culturally and linguistically diverse communities) and will evaluate utilization billing/rate data. This project will gather relevant data from community partners, draft a plain language report and recommendations in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), and finalize the report with DHS. The findings of this study will inform recommendations given to DHS and the Minnesota legislature on how to simplify and expand intervention services for people with co-occurring behavioral health conditions and disabilities.

Survey flyers are available in English and five other languages:

How can Minnesota improve intervention and respite services for people with behavioral health needs and disabilities?

The project wants public feedback about people's experiences with the following services:

Give your opinion on how to redesign services to meet people's needs by participating in one of the following ways:

  1. Complete a 15-minute online survey by August 1, 2024. Access the anonymous survey at z.umn.edu/waiver-survey

  2. Take part in a focus group (up to 8 people per session). Register here z.umn.edu/study-registration

  3. Get interviewed. Have a one-on-one conversation with a facilitator. Interpreters are provided as needed.

  4. Participate in public listening sessions. Sessions are via Zoom and in person at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, 2025 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414. Free Lyft rides are available if needed.

Registration

These events are free to attendees/participants, but prior registration is required for some activities. All people interested in these services (self-advocates, service providers, caregivers, etc.) are welcome. More information can be found on z.umn.edu/study-website

Register at z.umn.edu/study-registration