Children & Youth

Children's Therapeutic & Support Services (CTSS)

Helping children and young adults build skills for success.

Peoples Development Services provides Children's Therapeutic & Support Services (CTSS) to help children, young adults, and families manage emotional and behavioral challenges. Our goal is to help young people build practical skills for success at home, school, and in the community. Services are individualized based on each person's needs and goals.

Cost & funding

CTSS is covered by Medical Assistance (MA), PMAP, and other Minnesota Health Care Programs — no out-of-pocket cost for eligible clients.

How to start

Contact PDS to begin the intake and referral process. A diagnostic assessment is required — PDS mental health professionals can complete it when appropriate. Referrals can be sent to contact@pdsminn.org or faxed to (612) 332-9867.

Self-referral welcome

Who We Serve

CTSS may be available to children and young adults who:

Ages 8–17: Have a diagnosis of Emotional Disturbance (ED) or Severe Emotional Disturbance (SED).
Ages 18–20: Have a diagnosis of Mental Illness (MI) or Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI).
Have Medical Assistance (MA), PMAP, or another Minnesota Health Care Program.
Meet CTSS mental health and service requirements.

A PDS Mental Health Professional can complete a mental health assessment when needed to help determine eligibility.

Services We Provide

CTSS services are designed to help children, young adults, and families develop skills, manage challenges, and improve daily functioning.

Psychotherapy — individual, family, group, and crisis psychotherapy.
Skills Training — practical skills to manage emotions, behaviors, relationships, and everyday challenges, provided individually, with family members, or in a group setting by qualified mental health professionals, clinical trainees, or mental health practitioners.
Additional Support — crisis planning, mental health service plan development, support with treatment goals, and ongoing progress monitoring.

What Can CTSS Help With?

CTSS may help address:

Anger or aggression
Anxiety or depression
Emotional or behavioral difficulties
Family conflict
Difficulty following directions or rules
Peer and relationship challenges
Challenges at home, school, or in the community

CTSS can provide more intensive support than traditional outpatient therapy and can be adjusted as needs change.

Services Where You Need Them

Depending on the service and individual needs, CTSS may be provided in the:

Home
School
Community
PDS Office

Providing services in different settings allows children and families to practice and use the skills they learn in their everyday lives.

How to Get Started

Contact PDS — reach out to begin the intake and referral process.
Complete an Assessment — a mental health professional must complete a diagnostic assessment. PDS clinicians can provide this assessment when appropriate.
Develop a Treatment Plan — an Individual Treatment Plan (ITP) will be developed based on the child or young adult's needs, strengths, and goals.
Submit the Referral — complete the referral form and send it to contact@pdsminn.org or fax (612) 332-9867.