Last month's Children's Summit was a groundbreaking event.

Through this event, we had an opportunity to make positive change for young people who need behavioral health services. To make maximum impact, however, we needed a high level of participation and engagement. That's exactly what we got.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services and Governor's Children's Cabinet hosted the Children’s Summit virtually, bringing together experts from across Minnesota and members of the public to create solutions for issues facing the state’s behavioral health system for young people and their families. More than 700 people participated in the summit, including experts and leaders in the fields of health, education, child protection, child development, corrections, and more. We also had partners, providers, program experts, policy makers, parents, youth and others in attendance.

We recognize that this was a significant commitment. It was a four-day summit, with presentations and activities filling up each day. Not only was a there a lot of information to absorb, there were some very challenging topics to discuss and difficult questions to answer. Despite this, participants showed up, shared honestly and engaged authentically.

To those who participated: Thank you. You helped us develop our motto, which is that "One size does NOT fit all" when it comes to behavioral health services for young people. You helped us center our path forward on the principles of equity and anti-racism. And you helped develop ways to amplify youth voices and engage youth more authentically.

At the summit, participants developed a series of proposed solutions that would address gaps in Minnesota’s current continuum of care for young people. Proposals include a mix of items that state agencies can take immediate action on, and items that would require funding or legislative approval at a later stage. All of the proposed solutions are being compiled into a report, which will be shared on the Children’s Summit webpage in the coming weeks. This report will serve as our roadmap for turning the proposals into reality.

Thank you again for your dedication to helping young Minnesotans who are struggling with their mental and chemical health. The Children's Summit was only the beginning of this transformative work. Together, we will ensure all young people in Minnesota have access to behavioral health care that fits their needs.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has hired Catherine Scoville as deputy director of its Behavioral Health Division.

Scoville brings more than 20 years of executive experience in the aging and behavioral health spaces. She previously served as quality director at Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center, where she oversaw operations, compliance, project management and process improvement initiatives. Her first day was Jan. 24, 2022.

Community Supports Administration Assistant Commissioner Gertrude Matemba-Mutasa is currently serving as acting director of the Behavioral Health Division. A new director will be hired soon.