Inpatient psychiatric care for youth is often misunderstood as a last resort, an “extreme” measure reserved for the most severe cases. But in reality, it is a vital component of a robust and responsive mental health continuum—a level of care that can stabilize crises, provide targeted intervention, and set young people on a course toward long-term healing. Meeting youth where they are includes having the infrastructure to support them at every stage of their mental health journey.
At Sheppard Pratt, we have developed a continuum of care that can respond to youth based on their level of need.
Since the 1800s, when youth with behavioral health needs were often placed in adult institutions or ignored altogether, the field has evolved significantly. Sheppard Pratt, with its long-standing history of innovation in mental healthcare, has been at the forefront of this transformation. Today, the organization provides one of the most comprehensive pediatric behavioral health continuums in the nation.
At the highest level of intensity, Sheppard Pratt offers specialized inpatient units designed for children and adolescents, providing immediate, around-the-clock psychiatric care in a safe and structured environment. These programs are tailored to developmental needs and clinical complexity, ensuring youth receive not only crisis stabilization but also therapeutic engagement that prepares them for the next phase of care.
From there, Sheppard Pratt continues the journey through its Adolescent Residential Treatment Center and Type I and Type II special education schools, which integrate education with behavioral support. For those needing support in their everyday environments, Sheppard Pratt operates an extensive network of community-based services: school-based therapy, outpatient mental health centers, and mobile counseling, which bring therapy directly into homes and schools. Psychiatric Urgent Care centers provide an essential entry point for youth in need of immediate evaluation without the commitment of inpatient admission.
This seamless continuum of care reflects Sheppard Pratt’s holistic philosophy: that youth mental health should be supported with the right level of intervention at the right time. It is this philosophy that drives the vision for Sheppard Pratt’s new children’s hospital—a future-focused initiative to expand capacity, advance specialization, and meet the growing needs of young people and families across the region.
By investing in every level of care, from crisis to community, Sheppard Pratt ensures that no child faces mental health challenges alone—and every child has a path forward.