PARENTS/CAREGIVERS

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Being a parent is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world but it can also be one of the most difficult, especially if your child is struggling with a mental illness. Navigating the children’s mental health system can be a confusing, frustrating, lonely road.   

As a parent or caregiver, you know your child best. STARS empowers you not only to share your story and play a key decision-making role in your child’s care, but also to help us improve the way the system works and educate the community.


Meet Michelle and Get Connected
Your child is dealing with a mental, emotional or behavioral challenge. Now what? Am I doing enough? What should I expect? What do providers/professionals expect from me? What rights, responsibilities and choices do we have as a family?
Meet Michelle: Michelle is a parent of a child with anxiety and depression and knows how important it is to have credible information, reliable resources, and the support to get you where you need to go. Through previous work experience, Michelle has led parent education classes in several school districts and worked as a PACER Center advocate for special education and mental health.
Get Connected: As the Family Involvement Coordinator at STARS, Michelle can provide you with many types of information and support to help you and your family, including:
• Family-to-family support
• Printed and electronic materials/resources
• Links to other family and advocacy organizations
• Children’s mental health trainings/education
• Scholarships to cover registration fees
• Information on activities and events for your family
• Leadership and advocacy opportunities
• Tips on navigating the children’s mental health system and mental health services in your child’s school
To connect with Michelle, contact STARS.

 

Cultural Guides
STARS and Catholic Charities are working together to provide the area with Cultural Guides to work as liaisons between their communities, mental health providers and STARS partners. Guides also motivate and recruit members of their community to participate in STARS activities and events so their voice is represented in system change.

Latino Community – Mayuli Bales
GLBTQA Community – Christopher Kerr
Somali Community – Fartun Nur

 

Family Support Specialists
Family Supports Specialists (FSS) are parents who have a child or children with mental illness and have successfully navigated the children's mental health system. They can be a shoulder to lean on and a listening ear, from one parent to another. A FSS can also be a great source of support at school meetings or court appearances where he or she can encourage you to express your views clearly and make informed choices for your child's care plan.

 

Youth Engagement Specialist
The STARS Youth Engagement Specialist is coach for youth. Sara provides encouragement, support and guidance as a team player and can:
• Help youth find resources
• Serve as a youth support person in Wraparound meetings
• Help build partnerships in the community
• Educate adults and professionals on the importance of youth involvement
• Provide training to youth members to enhance their leadership skills
• Understand the complexities in the lives of young people
To refer a youth, click here.

 

School-based Mental Health Professionals
STARS received a three-year grant that provides every school district in our four-county area a mental health professional who can perform diagnostic assessments, offer limited treatment and make clinic referrals at the school. This person can also help with case consultation or questions that may arise. Contact  your school’s mental health professional to learn more.

 

County Case Management
Children's Mental Health County Social Workers are trained to use a  wraparound approach to help families navigate the children’s mental health system. County Social Workers coordinate and keep track of your child’s services and supports. They make sure that they are working together to provide the best care for you and your child. For more information, contact STARS.

STARS Training Calendar
This calendar provides information on area trainings, activities and events for anyone looking to learn more on issues and topics relating to children’s mental health. If you have questions, or you would like to list an upcoming training, please contact STARS.

 

Four County Crisis Response Team (CRT)
Check it out! New hours - new services!
The CRT provides support and assistance to children and adults experiencing a mental health crisis. Services include: Crisis hotline, crisis screening, face-to-face assessment and intervention, crisis stabilization, crisis prevention planning, information and referrals, a link to resources and supports, overnight crisis care and stabilization for children and youth, residential adult crisis stabilization.

Please do not hesitate to call! Click here for more information.

Mental Health Crisis Line
24 hours a day/365 days a year
800-635-8008 or 320-253-5555

 

Evidence-Based Practice Clinicians
Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) refers to treatments that are backed by scientific evidence and show improved outcomes for children with mental illness and their families. EBP also ensures that mental health professionals provide the best possible treatments to meet the child’s and family’s unique needs. STARS supports EBP by providing intensive education and extended supervision to area clinicians.

Click here for a list EBP clinicians.
Click here to view providers who specialize in age birth - five.

 

Wraparound
Wraparound is a way to support families who face challenges related to mental health issues or other complex needs. A trained facilitator will meet with you to explain the process and help you select suitable team members—people you know and trust. The team will meet at times convenient for you and as often as you and the team feel is needed. The team will help you and your family brainstorm, set and work towards important goals. This is YOUR team, and you are key to making it successful!

Children's Mental Health County Social Workers in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties are trained in the Wraparound process. Make sure that you ask about Wraparound! For more information, contact STARS.

Get the Facts
The internet is full of information but where do you start and who can you trust? Find what you’re looking for fast with STARS’ credible, up-to-date links.


Evaluation
National Evaluation: STARS is one of many communities nationwide that collects feedback from caregivers for The National Evaluation. Parent feedback helps the U.S. Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services shape policy and legislation for children’s mental health.

Local Evaluation: Family input helps us better understand our strengths and challenges. STARS uses data collected locally for the purpose of continuous quality improvement. We share our findings with providers and community members so that we can make improvements together. STARS’ continuous quality improvement (CQI) process is explained on our system of care Logic Model.

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