Adult Mental Health Initiatives

Printable informational page (PDF)
AMHI map (PDF)

Adult Mental Health Initiatives (AMHI) are regional collaborations charged with overseeing adult mental health services and funding to counties and tribal governments in their area.

AMHI Reform
- Adult mental health Initiatives reform (PDF)
- AMHI Reform FAQs (PDF)
Background

With the closure of Regional Treatment Centers in the early 1990s, counties were encouraged to develop partnerships with neighboring counties to plan for and develop acute care and community-based mental health treatment for those who had been served by the state hospital. Learning from the success of that approach, legislation was passed in 1996 to create and expand grant funding for regional partnerships to continue planning and service expansion efforts. Over time, this has resulted in 18 regional county initiatives and the White Earth Nation tribe who have identified as AMHIs. Each region ranges in size from single, large county entities in the metro area to regions encompassing up to 18 counties in greater Minnesota (Map PDF). The AMHIs continue to monitor, evaluate and reconfigure their service models while each county retains its role as the local mental health authority.

The service delivery design is unique to each AMHI. This approach has allowed small or sparsely populated counties to develop services they would not have the capacity to otherwise. The AMHIs have been an effective mechanism for regional collaboration to build community-based mental health services in Minnesota. The relationships built and sustained in the AMHIs are key to creating a strong service system.

Currently, DHS is working with regions on reforming our AMHIs, more information.
Community Support Programs
Established in 1979, Community Support Programs (CSPs) created new and innovative programs at the time including adult day treatment, vocational training, drop-in centers, crisis homes and case management services. CSP grant funding continues is to improve the lives of adults with serious and persistent mental illness to find and maintain competitive employment, handle basic activities of daily living, participate in social activities, set goals and plans and obtain and maintain appropriate living arrangements.

CSPs reduce the need for and use of more intensive, costly, or restrictive placements and provide services that are supportive in nature. Services include:
- Conducting outreach activities such as health and wellness checks
- Connecting people to resources to meet their basic needs
- Creating and maintaining social support systems using clubhouses or drop-in centers
- Finding, securing and supporting people in their housing
- Attaining and maintaining financial and medical benefits and assistance
- Finding and maintaining employment.
Eligible categories of spending for AMHI and CSPs:
- Adult Day Treatment
- Adult Mobile Crisis Services
- Adult Outpatient Medication Management
- Adult Outpatient Psychotherapy
- Adult Residential Crisis Stabilization
- Adult Residential Treatment
- Assertive Community Treatment
- Basic Living/Social Skills
- Client Flex Funds
- Emergency Response Services
- General Case Management
- Housing Subsidy
- Other CSP Services
- Outpatient Diagnostic Assessment
- Outreach
- Partial Hospitalization
- Peer Support Services
- Prevention
- Supported Employment
- Targeted Case Management
- Transportation
Resources
Statewide Meeting
AMHI Statewide Meetings are held quarterly via WebEx. All are invited and encouraged to attend. This includes: individuals with a lived experience of mental health concerns, Mental Health Providers, Mental Health Advocacy groups, Tribal representatives, MCOs, members of Local Advisory Councils, AMHI representatives, County and State Agency staff, etc.

Please contact us mn_dhs_amhi.dhs@state.mn.us with any questions you may have about the statewide meetings.

March 17, 2021 - Cancelled, will be rescheduled

June 16, 2021 1-3pm
Join the meeting via WebEx, event number: 146 225 6990, event password: AMHI
or by phone: 855-282-6330

September 15, 2021 1-3pm
Join the meeting via WebEx, event number: 146 491 4695, event password: AMHI
or by phone: 855-282-6330

Meeting resources