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More support could help teens with mental health problems

Rochelle Peterson, left, executive director of PACT for Families Collaborative, and parent Becky Romoz testify March 9 before the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee in support of HF1177, that would provide children’s mental health collaborative funding. Photo by Andrew VonBank
Rochelle Peterson, left, executive director of PACT for Families Collaborative, and parent Becky Romoz testify March 9 before the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee in support of HF1177, that would provide children’s mental health collaborative funding. Photo by Andrew VonBank

Adolescence is challenging enough without having a mental illness or an emotional behavioral disorder, Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar) told the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee Thursday.

It can become even more difficult when living in a rural area with limited access to support and services, said Rochelle Peterson, executive director of PACT for Families Collaborative, which provides children’s mental health and family support services in south-central Minnesota.

HF1177, sponsored by Baker, would help young people with mental illnesses transition from childhood to adulthood as smoothly as possible through a two-year, grant-funded demonstration project intended to bolster support services and programming throughout multiple rural counties.

The project would be funded by a one-time $1.2 million appropriation over the biennium, Baker said.

It was laid over for inclusion in a potential omnibus bill. Its companion, SF1337, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Lang (R-Olivia), awaits action by the Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee.

WATCH Full video from committee discussion on the bill

The project would build on transition services offered by an established children’s mental health collaborative serving young people between 15 and 25 years old, Baker said.

In addition to using motivational coaching to help participants identify their own goals for employment, education, housing, and community involvement, the grant recipient will provide navigational support to help them achieve those objectives.

Becky Romosz’s son, Eric, received services from PACT as a teenager with Asperger’s syndrome. With the help of a coach, he was able to identify and focus on his goals and learn the skills he needed to attend and graduate college, live on his own, and build successful relationships with others, she said.

After graduating, Eric moved to Michigan to pursue a job in his chosen field and led a happy, fulfilling life until he died from leukemia four years ago, Romosz said.

These services are particularly important in rural parts of the state where existing mental health care providers are few and far-between, Peterson said.

“Prevention is really where our resources need to be at,” she said. “This is becoming an overwhelming problem.”


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