BHSN for Children
The Behavioral Health Safety Net (BHSN) for Children provides essential outpatient mental health services to Tennesseans ages 3 to 17 who meet program eligibility criteria through a network of 15 BHSN Community Mental Health Providers. BHSN Providers serve eligible Tennesseans in all 95 counties. In counties without a physical BHSN provider location, services may be provided in a neighboring county, or through telehealth.
- There is no income limit for the BHSN for Children program.
- The program helps to connect/refer children to other behavioral health payor sources.
- Children with CoverKids and private/commercial insurance may qualify for a limited array of essential services.
Essential BHSN for Children services include assessment and evaluation, individual, family, and group therapy, psychiatric medication management, labs related to medication management, and pharmacy assistance and coordination. Other BHSN for Children services that may be available include peer and family support services, and transportation.
To Apply for Behavioral Health Safety Net Assistance:
1. Find a provider in your area
2. Make an intake appointment
3. Tell the provider that you wish to apply for the BHSN program
Click this Link to Find a Provider in Your Area
Click this link or the image at right for a diagram of how eligiblity works.
To qualify for the BHSN for Children program, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be between three (3) and seventeen (17) years of age
- Be a resident of Tennessee, with no minimum timeframe required
- Be diagnosed with a qualifying mental health diagnosis
- If the person has never received a mental health diagnosis, but believes they need mental health help, the BHSN Provider will assist in determining if there is a qualifying mental health diagnosis.
- Be a US Citizen, or qualified alien (defined as a non-US citizen residing in Tennessee who is a Permanent Resident of the US, or an asylee, or a refugee, or a non-US citizen residing Tennessee on a conditional visa as defined by state and federal laws)
- Be determined ineligible for TennCare – BHSN Provider agency staff can help you apply for TennCare if an application has not previously been submitted prior to applying for BHSN
- Not be in a long-term in-patient or residential facility
- Not be in State legal custody, such as foster care
- There is NO income limit for BHSN for Children.
Limited services under the BHSN for Children program are available to children ages three (3) to seventeen (17) who are enrolled in CoverKids or have private/commercial behavioral health insurance and meet all other eligibility requirements for BHSN for Children.
These two groups are eligible for the following BHSN services: Case Management, Family Support Services, Family Therapy with client present, Family Therapy without client present, Medication Training and Support, Transportation (to a corresponding BHSN service only).
For More Information
If you have concerns or need services for yourself, a child, or family member, contact our Helpline:
Phone: 800-560-5767
Email: OCA.TDMHSAS@tn.gov
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except for state holidays)
If you feel at any time that you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 and press 0 to speak to a trained counselor or chat with 988lifeline.org.