Provider credentialing and standards

Credentialing mental health providers and setting standards for service delivery help ensure the quality of mental health care for children and youth. The Minnesota Legislature approved Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports, Children’s Mental Health Crisis Response Services and Youth ACT (Assertive Community Treatment). DHS oversees these applications and approval processes that require mental health providers to meet certain criteria to provide services and receive reimbursement for Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP).

Provider credentialing and program standards include many components, such as:

Administrative infrastructure
Clinical supervision and infrastructure
Cultural competency
Education, training and staff development
Ethical and professional standards
Licensure
Medical record maintenance
Professional experience and qualifications

The goal is to make sure that mental health providers have the capacity and competency to deliver the right services in the right settings to best meet the mental health needs of children. DHS supports maintaining and expanding a culturally diverse, credentialed workforce prepared to respond to the needs of children and their families.

Licensing facilities and organizations
DHS licenses, monitors and investigates mental health facilities and organizations to ensure their compliance with standards set by Minnesota laws and rules. The facilities and organizations include:
Licensing professionals

Licensed mental health professionals in Minnesota must meet minimum clinical licensure standards to qualify as individual mental health providers regardless of professional discipline. These licensed mental health professionals include clinical counselors, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists.