An alternative to hospitalizing youth in psychiatric crises: The children’s village crisis residence model

A hospital diversion program for treating young persons who are in psychiatric crisis is presented. The Crisis Residence program was developed at The Children’s Village agency in Westchester, New York, initially as a way to avert psychiatric hospitalization of residents at the agency’s residential treatment center. The program was subsequently expanded to serve community young people from the tri-state area as well. The rationale for the development of the program, an overview of the model, and data on residents served at the program over the course of one fiscal year are presented.