In 2019, the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing (MNCDHH) started looking into the gap in mental health services for deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing students across Minnesota.

MNCDHH developed a focus group meeting and invited the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Division (DHHSD) Mental Health Director, a psychologist from Launchpad, several other DHH mental health specialists, and school administrators to discuss the gap analysis.

This group agreed there is a need for a mental health day treatment program for deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing students in Minnesota. Through the process of searching for a potential site for the DHH Mental Health Day treatment program, the Minnesota State Academy of the Deaf (MSAD) volunteered to offer their site. MSAD used to have a mental health program called Impact, but it was designed to provide intensive outpatient service.

This discussion and plans were on pause during the pandemic. Since then, we recognize the increased need for mental health services for deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing children. Currently, we are looking into a “hybrid” day treatment program for deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing youth who are experiencing mental illnesses that interfere with their ability to successfully navigate the school day and home.

Day treatment is a higher level of care for children and adolescents struggling with mental health difficulties and who have not responded well to traditional mental health interventions such as school counseling, outpatient therapy, skills training and development, and medication management alone.

We have a small group of the MSAD mental health team, VONA staff, and MNCDHH working on creating a realistic and sustainable program.

We have developed a statewide survey to give us an idea of what type of program or curriculum is needed for students who need mental health treatment care. There are only seven questions on the survey. Your feedback will help us determine what the current needs are.

This survey is intended for parents of deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing youth and for their teachers and other professionals serving these students. 

Take the Day Treatment Program survey for parents and professionals