Understanding the Pediatric Mental Health System

A mental health resource for parents and families

Every child’s journey with mental health care can look different. Families have many care options to consider, but all are designed with your family’s best interest in mind. At every stage of mental health care, there is much to learn and consider, but your care teams and experts are here as a trusted resource to guide you through finding the right care plan, managing school, transitioning to new types of care and figuring out insurance coverage. The mental health experts at Children's Hospital Colorado have provided their expertise here and we hope this will be a helpful resource for you during your child’s mental health care.

Types of mental health care

Understanding care options for your child is the very first step you can take. We’ll help you feel better about making the best choice for your child and family. Select options from the menu above to learn more about the different types of care, what you should keep in mind and questions you should ask.

Emergency and crisis services

Kids and families typically visit the emergency department for mental health crises, such as suicidal ideation, harmful behaviors or worsening anxiety and depression. During their visits, patients get an assessment to understand the level of care they need. The length of stay in the emergency room depends on your childs condition. More complex cases generally require 10 to 12 hours, while kids with less complex cases are typically in the ER for 3 to 4 hours.

Inpatient care

If your child needs additional care or time to help them stabilize, they qualify for inpatient care, where they stay at the hospital for an average of 7 to 10 days. During this time, they may have daily meetings with psychiatrists and therapists, group therapy, creative arts therapy and more.

Partial hospitalization programs

Partial hospitalization programs, or PHPs, give kids more support than outpatient care but less than inpatient care. Kids enrolled in PHP generally spend their full day with mental health providers at a care facility and then go home in the evenings. There is no set amount of time kids spend in PHPs, but these programs usually last between 1 and 4 weeks.

Intensive outpatient care

Care teams recommend intensive outpatient programs for kids who benefit from more time than they might get in regular outpatient visits. This type of care typically lasts between 4 and 8 weeks, and each week, children meet with an outpatient doctor for at least 9 hours. This is usually broken up in a way that allows kids and teens to attend visits after school.

In-home care

In-home services are often a resource that’s used before trying a residential program. This involves a clinician coming into your family’s home and providing in-the-moment care. It can be anywhere from 2 to 10 hours a week.

Residential treatment facilities

There are two main types of residential treatment programs in Colorado: qualified residential treatment programs (QRTPs) and psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs). QRTPs are considered a less intensive form of residential care, while PRTFs are the highest level of residential care. To be eligible for residential treatment, kids generally have to have experienced lower levels of care first. Residential programs provide therapy, schooling and 24/7 care.

Outpatient care

Outpatient care is one of the most common types of care that families access. Kids who get outpatient mental health care usually meet with their therapist or other provider for 50 minutes at a time. Some kids attend visits weekly, while others may go monthly.

Primary care and community care

Kids and families usually work with their primary care provider (PCP) as they consider and receive mental health care. Your PCP will maintain regular check-ins with you to discuss mental health treatment, goals and progress. It is important to share discharge paperwork and safety plans with your PCP so they can help your family and connect you with community resources.