When your child is finding it hard to cope with their mental health, figuring out what type of help they qualify for can feel like another challenge on top of everything else. In Minnesota, Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) can provide therapy, skills training, and other rehabilitative mental health services for eligible children and young adults.
But CTSS eligibility in Minnesota is based on more than simply having a mental health diagnosis. To help families understand their options, this page will explain:
Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports is a program in Minnesota that provides a range of mental health and rehabilitative services to children and youth up to age 21. These services offer varying levels of intervention depending on the child’s needs and are covered through Minnesota Health Care Programs when eligibility and other requirements are met.[1]
CTSS services for youth combine therapy with skills training to help them reach their appropriate developmental and social functioning.[2] Rather than focusing only on reducing symptoms, CTSS can help young people develop or regain skills that mental health challenges have made accessing more difficult. Services may take place in the home, school, or other community settings through a certified provider.
Under Minnesota law, CTSS is available to eligible individuals under age 21. Before services begin, a mental health professional generally completes a standard diagnostic assessment. That assessment must identify a qualifying mental illness and document why CTSS is medically necessary to address the young person’s:[3]
In general, the main CTSS requirements in Minnesota include:[3]
This means CTSS eligibility for children, teens, and young adults isn’t just based on diagnosis. The clinical assessment must show that the symptoms interfere with functioning and that the rehabilitative services would address their mental health needs.
A diagnostic assessment is one of the most important parts of determining CTSS eligibility in Minnesota. During this assessment, a mental health professional talks with the child and their family to better understand what they’re experiencing. The information the professional may ask about includes:
During the interview, the clinician may also look at the child’s:[4]
Once the clinician provides a medical diagnosis and establishes medical necessity, that information can help start Minnesota CTSS mental health services.
Once the clinician establishes CTSS eligibility in Minnesota, the services a young person receives become based on their personalized treatment plan. Covered children’s therapeutic services in Minnesota include:[3]
Not every child will need every service. If your teen is receiving CTSS mental health services in Minnesota, the type of services they receive will depend on the treatment plan created between your teen, family, and the clinician.
Mission Prep is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
CTSS Medicaid in Minnesota, also called “Medical Assistance,” is part of the eligibility requirements for receiving CTSS therapy in Minnesota.[2] If you do not qualify for CTSS Medicaid in Minnesota, you may still receive services if you have MinnesotaCare, which is a public healthcare program for low-income Minnesota residents.[5]
So before you have your child assessed for CTSS eligibility in Minnesota, it might be important to determine if your child is enrolled in an applicable Minnesota Health Care Program and if your child meets medical necessity requirements.
Then contact an approved CTSS provider to schedule an assessment. CTSS mental health services can only be provided by an agency or school that’s certified through Minnesota’s Department of Human Services.[1]
Insurance and Medicaid requirements can be confusing, especially when you’re already worried about your child’s mental health. To start the process of enrolling in CTSS in Minnesota, you can reach out to your insurance provider, especially if you have Minnesota Medicaid, or the Minnesota Department of Health.
Meeting CTSS eligibility in Minnesota doesn’t necessarily mean CTSS is the only type of care your teen may need. Mental health treatment exists across different levels of care. Some teens do well with community-based or outpatient support. Others may need more frequent or structured care when their symptoms begin interfering substantially with their ability to function.
You may want to look into higher levels of support if your teen is:
These signs may suggest that it’s time to reassess whether their current level of support matches their needs.
Take a tour of our teen residential mental health facilities located in Minnetonka, MN. Our locations offer peace & comfort within a residential environment where teenagers, aged 12-17, can relax and focus on themselves.
Our well-appointed facilities are located in on the west side of the Metro area and serve teens from across Minnesota.
At Mission Prep Teen Treatment, we understand that finding the right mental health support for your teen can feel overwhelming. You may know they’re finding it hard to cope without knowing whether CTSS for teens, traditional outpatient therapy, or a more structured treatment program is the right next step.
Our adolescent mental health programs provide personalized support for teens experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health challenges. Depending on your teen’s needs, treatment may include evidence-based and holistic therapies.
We also recognize that mental health challenges can affect the whole family. Parent and family involvement can help you understand what your teen is experiencing while learning how to support their progress outside treatment.
Our Minnesota locations are an important part of the residential treatment process at Mission Prep Teen Treatment. We believe it’s critical for teens to have a safe and welcoming environment to build the tools they need to facilitate healing. We maintain modern, well-appointed homes where teens are able to develop and practice strategies that help lay the foundation for sustainable healing.
Mission Prep Teen Treatment accepts insurance and is in-network with most major providers. We are happy to help you check your insurance coverage for mental health care.
Start the admissions process online or call 866-901-4047 to speak with a caring member of our team who can answer any questions you might have. Reach out for a free, no-obligation conversation.
"*" indicates required fields
🔒 100% Confidential
No Commitment
✓ Instant Results
Understanding the overall requirements for who qualifies for CTSS mental health services can give you a starting point. But families often have more specific questions about diagnosis, age, school services, and how to determine the right level of support. Here, we’ll address some of these questions.
No. A mental health diagnosis is an important part of CTSS eligibility for children, but a diagnosis alone doesn’t mean your child will automatically be eligible. A certified provider must complete a diagnostic assessment and also document that CTSS is medically necessary to address an identified disability or functional impairment.[2]
CTSS in Minnesota covers children, teens, and young adults up to age 21.[1] A standard diagnostic assessment can help determine if your child is eligible for services.
Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports providers in Minnesota are certified community mental health agencies, counties, schools, or tribal programs enrolled in Minnesota Health Care Programs. Some examples of certified providers include Accend Services, Brightwater Health, and LifeStance Health. You can find the full list of providers on the Minnesota Department of Health website.[2]
Yes, having an IEP isn’t a requirement for CTSS eligibility in Minnesota. CTSS providers can offer mental health services to students who meet the criteria regardless of whether they have an IEP or IFSP.[3]
A mental health assessment can help determine your teen’s diagnosis, how symptoms are affecting daily functioning, and what level of care may fit their needs. Some teens benefit from community-based CTSS, while others may need outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential, or another form of structured mental health treatment.
At Mission Prep Teen Treatment, we address teen mental health needs through our whole-person, personalized approach. We take into account your teen’s current symptoms, concerns, strengths, and goals to create a plan that addresses their needs. By combining evidence-based approaches with holistic methods, we’ll help your teen identify and manage their emotions while building healthy ways of coping.
Are You Covered for Mental Health Treatment?
We’re in-network with many providers. Call us at 866-901-4047 to verify your benefits and find out how much your plan will cover
Find out if Mission Prep is right for you by reaching out to us and speaking with one of our admissions representatives.
