Psychiatric Community Crisis Services for Youth

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Healthcare Management
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Increasing numbers of children and families require psychiatric crisis care annually.
• Existing community services are often limited, leading to inappropriate emergency department use.
• Emergency department care may not be the most effective or efficient setting for all youth in crisis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present effective care models for pediatric psychiatric crisis services.
• To review program development, implementation, and monitoring strategies.
• To highlight leadership principles for establishing a continuum of crisis care.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of care models in Ventura County, California, and Connecticut.
• Review of program development, implementation, and monitoring processes.
• Identification of key principles for service leaders.

Main Results:

• A continuum of crisis services demonstrates improved clinical and financial outcomes.
• Specific care models from Ventura County and Connecticut offer practical examples.
• Leadership considerations are crucial for successful service development.

Conclusions:

• Developing a continuum of psychiatric crisis services is essential for meeting youth needs.
• Community-based crisis services offer a more effective alternative to emergency departments.
• Leadership commitment and strategic planning are vital for implementing successful crisis care models.