How do I get immediate help for a child or youth having a behavioral health crisis?
Lead Agency
Department of Behavioral Health (DBH)
Director:
Dr. Barbara Bazron
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Fiscal Year(s) Funded
FY22 - FY23
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Status
Ongoing
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For More Info
Call 202-481-1440 for immediate assistance with a child having a behavioral health crisis.
Program Summary
ChAMPS (Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Service) is an emergency response service for children, teenagers, and young adults with mental health or behavioral health crisis. It is an emergency service that works with hospitals and police and comes to the home or school the same day at no charge.
How does it help?
Children and their families need help managing extreme emotional behavior to avoid a child leaving the home. This team provides in-home assistance or arranges temporary placement in a respite home or other emergency setting. The team also assesses whether a child’s behavior poses a danger, requiring possible psychiatric inpatient hospitalization.
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Who uses this program?
Children and youth ages 6 to 17 and their families and DC foster children in foster placement in Maryland. This also serves children ages 18 to 21 if they are in the care and custody of the DC Child and Family Services Agency. Call 202-481-1440 for immediate assistance with a child having a behavioral health crisis.