Division of Child Mental Health Homepage
This is the homepage for the division of Child Mental Health Services. On this page you will find who Child Mental Health serves, how they can help you, how they work with you, and a list of their contracted Outpatient Providers which one can call directly if a child is in need of outpatient counseling. Child Mental Health brochures in both English and Spanish are listed here: Child Mental Health Brochure and Child Mental Health Brochure (Spanish). Child Mental Health intake services can be reached at 302.633.2571.

Child Mental Health Eligibility
This page defines eligibility criteria for services provided by the Division of Child Mental Health Services (DCMHS), State of Delaware  

Child Mental Health Outpatient Providers
Children typically start of with once a week outpatient counseling at The Division of Child Mental Health. This is the list of Outpatient Providers that are contracted by Child Mental Health. They can be called directly. These providers also serve children with Medicaid, children who are uninsured, and children with exhausted private insurance. If once a week outpatient counseling with a licensed therapist is not working for the child, have the child's current therapist fill out the Child Mental Health Referral Form seen below.

Child Mental Health Referral Form
This form is to be filled out for children who are eligible to receive mental health services from Child Mental Health and might need a higher level of care than once a week outpatient counseling. If the child is not currently receiving outpatient counseling and meets the eligibility requirements for Child Mental Health, you can contact the Outpatient Providers contracted by Child Mental Health directly or look on the back of your insurance card and contact the member services number for mental health. 

Crisis Services
Crisis Services/Child Priority Response provides risk assessments to determine whether or not a child needs to be hospitalized for 24-72 hours due to a psychiatric emergency. A psychiatric emergency entails a child intending to commit harm to themselves or others. Please read the Crisis Services FAQ for a full understanding of Crisis Services/Child Priority Response's purpose and who they serve.

Child Mental Health Program Descriptions
This page describes the different levels of care that are provided by Child Mental Health and other mental health providers.  

Child Well-Being Initiative
The Child Well-being Initiative is a treatment program and research study for youth who are experiencing emotional difficulties following a stressful experience. Children and caregivers meet with trained clinicians for 12 to 16 counseling sessions over a 3 to 4 month period. Sessions are used to teach families about symptoms of trauma, ways to cope with difficult thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and skills for relaxation. DCMHS oversees the study. The program serves children ages 7-17. The brochure and the permission to contact form are beneath. Contact (302) 633-2695 if you have any questions.
Child Well-Being Initiative (Brochure)
Permission to Contact Form

How to Access Mental Health Services
This is a general reference that can be used to explain what steps to take to access mental health and substance abuse services for your child. It explains what to do in an emergency, a non-emergency, when you have insurance questions, and how to apply for Disabled Child's Medicaid, a type of insurance that is based on the child's diagnosis (Axis I and some Axis II diagnoses) and the child's income - NOT THE PARENTS' INCOME - so this is a way of getting benefits that one's private insurance does not cover.