The Commission is sharing an important memo from Jaime Monson, Associate Director of Behavioral Health, Volunteers of America of MN & WI. This letter announces the official opening of the Mental Health Day Treatment Program for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing Youth, which will be housed at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault, MN. 

This is an incredible milestone. The Commission, mental health and school professionals, and advocates have been working to establish this program since before a survey went out in 2023. We are pleased this program will now be available to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing youth in Minnesota. 

Memo

Dear Community Member,

Vona Center for Mental Health by Volunteers of America of MN and WI is proud to announce, in collaboration with Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, we have completed certification for opening a Mental Health Day Treatment Program for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing Youth in Minnesota, to be housed on the campus of MSAD in Faribault.  You may have heard a bit about this program already, we are excited to announce the program’s next steps!

The Mental Health Day Treatment Program makes a world of difference for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing youth ages 6-18 years, in grades K-12, in developmentally matched cohort groups of 4-6 youth.  This model focuses on teaching kids how to trust, grow, and excel in school, home, and community. Also, it helps children whose social, emotional, and behavioral problems interfere with their academic progress and daily functioning.  Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing youth attend academic and mental health programming on the campus of the MN State Academy for the Deaf, who is our educational partner. Youth attend in person during the school year and virtually during the summer.  We offer skills development, individual therapy, group therapy and family therapy.  The day treatment program therapist is Tyler Russell, MSW, LGSW and supervised by Nicki Melby, MA, LMFT. 

We are ready to accept referrals for the program, effective immediately.  If you have questions about a referral, you may reach out to Nicki Melby at Nicki.Melby@voamn.org.  You can make a referral via our website at www.voamnwi.org/dhh and click on “Request Services”.  To be eligible for the program a youth needs the following:

• Diagnostic Assessment completed within the past one year (if needed, we can provide via appointment)
• Child and Adolescent Services Intensity Instrument (CASII) completed within the past 2 months (if needed, we can provide via appointment)
• Active health insurance with day treatment coverage (we can help verify)
• Currently receiving mental health therapy services or has received mental health therapy services and has stopped because the services have not met the mental health needs
• Is in grades K-12 and is willing to transfer to the MN State Academy for the Deaf
• Is eligible to reside in the residential dormitory at MSAD or live close enough to commute
  - Programming is offered on-campus only during the school year, virtual services are not an option.

It is our hope to welcome the first cohort of students into this program beginning January 21, 2025; however, we realize that the educational transfer process including the IEP can take some time.  We will handle all transitions with the diligence and care necessary to ensure they are smooth. 

We are currently developing informational materials and preparing an open house for mid-January, stay tuned!

Questions?  Reach out to:

Nicki Melby, MA, LMFT                            Jaime Monson, MSW, LICSW
Program Supervisor/Manager                  Associate Director                   
612-716-7763 (v/txt)                                763-252-4509 (v/txt)
612-444-2267 (vp)                                   612-326-4255 (vp)
nicki.melby@voamn.org                          jmonson@voamn.org