Crisis stabilization services for children and adolescents: a brokerage model to reduce admissions to state psychiatric facilities.
There continues to be an increased interest in developing community-based services for children and adolescents as an alternative to inpatient care. However, there has been much more talk than action in creating such alternatives. This paper describes the success of a crisis stabilization program for children and adolescents in a community mental health center which historically over-utilized the State psychiatric facility for youth. The Crisis Stabilization Program consists of three components: (1) a two-person crisis team, (2) a four-person on-call team for after hours crises, and (3) funds which the crisis team utilized to broker for a wider array of community-based services.
Ruffin
J E
JE
Child and Adolescent Services, Columbia Area Mental Health Center, S.C. 29203.
Spencer
H R
HR
Abel
A
A
Gage
J
J
Miles
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003363:Cost Control; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D003688:Deinstitutionalization / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000191:economics; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006783:Hospitals, State / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013022:South Carolina