The care of children experiencing a mental health crisis can be tricky and Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital is hoping to improve the scenarios with establishment of a new Children’s Crisis Intervention Center.
It’s a dedicated behavioral health treatment space within the children’s emergency department that will begin caring for patients in August.
Designed for children up to age 15 experiencing a behavioral health crisis, the center provides “a calm, therapeutic environment where young patients can receive rapid evaluation, stabilization and connection to ongoing services,” a Yale New Haven Hospital spokeswoman said.
The newly renovated Center offers 24/7 care from a specialized team of physicians, nurses, social workers and milieu counselors trained in pediatric behavioral health. The center is designed to support children experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, depression, anxiety, substance misuse and other mental health crises, the spokeswoman said.
“Today marks an important step forward for children and families across Connecticut,” Pamela Sutton-Wallace, acting CEO of Yale New Haven Health said at the opening. “The need for timely, accessible behavioral health services has never been greater, and far too many young people in crisis continue to face barriers to getting the care they need when they need it.”
The Children’s Crisis Intervention Center ensures ‘that every child has access to the right care, at the right time and in the right setting,” she said.
Yale officials said the center incorporates the Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing (EMPATH) model, which provides a specialized, therapeutic approach for patients experiencing behavioral health emergencies.
“When we think about caring for children in crisis, we must ask not only what care we provide, but how we provide it,” Beth Heinz, senior vice president, Women’s and Children’s Services, said through a spokeswoman.
“Traditional emergency departments are designed to deliver rapid stabilization, but for children experiencing behavioral health challenges, they can sometimes intensify distress rather than relieve it. The EMPATH model represents a transformative approach, providing a calm, healing environment centered on dignity, compassion and recovery. Children in crisis deserve not only access to care, but the right environment, the right expertise and the right support to heal.”
Dr. Kate Heilpern, president of Yale New Haven Hospital, said the center addresses a growing need for pediatric behavioral health services.
“When a child is in crisis, families need more than a place to go,” said Heilpern said through a spokesperson.
“They need reassurance, expertise and compassionate care that meets them where they are and helps them take crucial next steps toward recovery. The need for behavioral health support is critical, and this Center was created to help stabilize crises, support families and connect young people to the care they need to heal, grow and thrive.”
The Children’s Crisis Intervention Center was made possible through support from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Timken Foundation, which funded the Center’s group therapy room.
