States are increasingly adopting youth crisis receiving and stabilization facilities to provide intensive care and ensure safety for youth in crisis, especially when home and community-based options are insufficient. As they work to address the growing youth behavioral health crisis, states should consider collaborating with families and youth with lived experience to effectively integrate these facilities into a comprehensive behavioral health system. By positioning these facilities as part of a broader crisis continuum of care, states can optimize resources, ensure alignment with the needs of those in crisis, and connect youth to essential services and supports that promote their overall well-being.
This brief reviews how States have defined admission criteria, licensure requirements, and post-discharge planning to ensure appropriate use and avoid substituting these facilities for inpatient care or emergency departments. Additionally, policies are being developed to provide on-site support or connect youth with higher acuity needs to appropriate settings, ensuring services are tailored to individual circumstances.
