Child & Family Services
Definition of “Child with Severe Emotional Disturbance”

Minnesota State Statue

Section: 245.4871
Subd. 6. Child with severe emotional disturbance.

For purposes of eligibility for case management and family community support services, "child with severe emotional disturbance" means a child who has an emotional disturbance and who meets one of the following criteria:

(1) the child has been admitted within the last three years or is at risk of being admitted to inpatient treatment or residential treatment for an emotional disturbance; or

(2) the child is a Minnesota resident and is receiving inpatient treatment or residential treatment for an emotional disturbance through the interstate compact; or

(3) the child has one of the following as determined by a mental health professional:

(i) psychosis or a clinical depression; or

(ii) risk of harming self or others as a result of an emotional disturbance; or

(iii) psychopathological symptoms as a result of being a victim of physical or sexual abuse or of psychic trauma within the past year; or

(4) the child, as a result of an emotional disturbance, has significantly impaired home, school, or community functioning that has lasted at least one year or that, in the written opinion of a mental health professional, presents substantial
risk of lasting at least one year.