MENTAL HEALTH CHILDREN'S CRISIS BEDS

King County has three mental health crisis beds for children. The Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) contributes funding for these beds for children in their care.

INTENSIVE CRISIS BEDS:
The Intensive Crisis Bed program started on January 3, 1995, under contract with Seattle Children's Home and Fairfax Hospital. Currently, there are 3 beds at SCH. This resource serves acutely mentally ill children in crisis by providing short-term stabilization and evaluation services with the goals of preventing hospitalization and de-escalating the crisis.

The intensive crisis beds are available on a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week emergency basis for children and youth age 6 through 17 in acute mental health crisis in King County. They have severe emotional and behavior problems, and require a structured, secure setting to stabilize the crisis. They may have a combination of diagnoses including developmental disabilities and neurological problems, as well as severe emotional/behavioral problems. Maximum length of stay is 15 days.

Intensive Crisis Bed services include but are not limited to case management services supportive to efforts of the referring agency and include an assessment of the child and family; individual case planning in consultation with the referring case manager; medical care; psychiatric evaluation; and, medication management as needed.

To access the Intensive Crisis Beds, call the Crisis Clinic at (206) 461-3222.