Somali & East African Behavioral Health Services Program
Location: Volunteers of America-Minnesota Education Center, 924 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55404 (Located at the northwest corner of Franklin Avenue and Cedar Avenue.)
Days/Hours: Appointments are scheduled to accommodate the needs of program participants and may take place in a school, clinic, community or home setting.
Participants: Somali or East African youth and adults who have social, emotional or behavioral problems
Fees: Behavioral health services are reimbursable by Medical Assistance, third party insurance payers and contractual agreements with counties.
Contact: David Schuchman, MSW, LICSW, Director of Immigrant and Refugee Behavioral Health
Phone: 612-767-0019
Email: dschuchman@voamn.org
Description
The Somali and East African Behavioral Health Services Program is a program of the Volunteers of America-Minnesota Mental Health Clinics. The program offers culturally and language specific behavioral health services for Somali and East African youth and adults who experience significant difficulty due to emotional or behavioral problems, and their families.
Our comprehensive program offers intensive therapeutic, skill building and rehabilitative services to help strengthen the emotional, behavioral and social functioning of Somali and East African youth and their families. This includes improving school performance, increasing school attendance and improving their ability to function well within their families and in the community. In addition, we perform diagnostic assessments and some follow up services for adults.
The Somali and East African Behavioral Health Services Program staff is composed of highly trained mental health professionals who are fluent in Somali and knowledgeable about Somali culture. They have a broad range of understanding about the physical and mental health needs of Somali and East African youth and adults and how these needs influence school, family life and social adjustment. When a youth or adult is referred to our program, program staff arrange for an initial intake screening and evaluation meeting to determine what the needs are. Plans are then made to meet these needs.
The Somali and East African Behavioral Health Services Program components include:
- Diagnostic Assessment
- Individual Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Individual Skill Building
- Family Skill Building
- Group Skill Building
- Multidisciplinary Team Consultation
- Parent Support Groups
- Consultation to Schools and teachers
- Community Presentations
The Somali and East African Behavioral Health Services Program provides Clinical Supervision and training of Somali Mental Health Practitioners to build their capacity to become independent professionals. Training, licensure supervision and consultation services to others is also available. Consultation, support and direct service is also available from the multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in the Volunteers of America-Minnesota Mental Health Clinics.
The Somali and East African Behavioral Health Services Program collaborates with other Volunteers of America-Minnesota programs and other professionals to provide necessary services. The Volunteers of America-Minnesota Mental Health Clinics is a Minnesota Department of Human Services licensed Rule 29 Mental Health Clinic and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation. Additionally, we are a certified provider of Children’s Therapeutic Services and Support (CTSS).