One way Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division expands the availability of appropriate mental health services for children and teens who are deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing is through grants for counseling services and psychological assessments. Here is a brief summary of how these grants meet children's needs around the state. 

Counseling services for children and teens 

Counseling services are provided by two agencies: Volunteers of America of Minnesota (serving Metro, Central, and Southeast Minnesota); and Therapeutic Services Agency (serving Northeast, Northwest, South Central and Southwest Minnesota). Grant funding for children's mental health services benefits the community by offering mental health therapists who are trained to work with deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing children and teens, ensuring direct and culturally affirmative mental health services are provided statewide. Children and teens can meet with therapists, either in-person or virtually, to work on their individual treatment goals or family therapy goals. 

If you have questions or need counseling services for your child or teen, you may contact the agency serving your region: 

• In Metro, Central, and Southeast Minnesota, contact Jaime Monson, Volunteers of America of Minnesota Program Director. 
• In Northeast, Northwest, South Central and Southwest Minnesota, contact Jacqlyn Davoll, Therapeutic Services Agency Program Manager. 

Psychological assessment services for children and teens 

This grant, administered by Metropolitan Educational Cooperative Services Unit (Metro ECSU), is known as GM LaunchPAD. It provides licensed psychologists to conduct psychological assessments with children and teens (ages 0-21) who are deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing who live in Greater Minnesota and attend a Minnesota public school. It also supports follow-up services to ensure that recommendations listed in psychological assessment reports are followed or implemented. 

• LaunchPad has licensed psychologists who are fluent in American Sign Language and have training and experience working with students with hearing loss. 
• Psychologists travel to the student's school or county offices to complete the evaluation. These travel costs are covered by grant funds. 
• LaunchPAD explores medical insurance, third-party educational billing, county funding and vocational rehabilitation funding options to cover psychological testing costs.
• LaunchPAD completes a minimum of 24 psychological assessments each year. 

If you have questions about this grant, you may contact Deanna Rothbauer, LaunchPAD Project Program Coordinator. 

For more mental health resources, you can contact us.