Review
. 2026 Jul;35(3):429-438.
doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2026.03.010.
Epub 2026 Apr 27.
Affiliations
Item in Clipboard
Review
Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am.
2026 Jul.
Abstract
While emergency departments are a vital safety net for all patients, they often fail to meet the unique care needs of pediatric patients presenting with behavioral health emergencies. In response, increasing attention has been directed toward pediatric crisis intervention programs that divert unnecessary emergency department visits and link youth in crisis to more appropriate services. This article outlines key factors to consider in designing a pediatric behavioral health crisis intervention program and presents a practical decision-making framework to guide program selection and implementation.
Keywords:
Continuum of care; Crisis intervention program; Emergency department diversion; Pediatric mental health crisis care.
Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Disclosure The authors declare no conflict of interest, including financial or personal relationships, and received no funding support for this article.