Inpatient Behavioral Health

Our Child and Adolescent Inpatient Behavioral Health Program offers acute psychiatric crisis care to children and adolescents, ages 3 to 19, who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioral challenges.

We provide high-quality, individualized care in a compassionate and respectful environment, that addresses your child's mental health, education, and overall well-being during their stay.

About Our Program

Program Goals

Our program promotes safety, hope, and stability, enabling each child and adolescent to reintegrate successfully into their home, school, and community. We value active involvement from patients and their families and caregivers during inpatient treatment and once they are home.

At Franciscan Children’s, we utilize a multidisciplinary approach to crisis intervention. This includes expert diagnostic assessment, therapeutic treatment, psychopharmacological (medication) treatment, and mobilization of the patient’s family and caregivers to resolve conflict and support the child. We introduce a range of techniques to help stabilize patients in crisis and reduce high-risk symptoms.

We are committed to providing family-centered care, recognizing that the needs of the child are best met when families, caregivers and healthcare professionals work together as a team. We prioritize responsiveness to the unique needs and preferences of each family, ensuring the well-being of the child.

The Treatment Experience: Our Inpatient Behavioral Health program offers the following key components of treatment:

24/7 Supervision and Support

Your child will be actively engaged in our structured and closely supervised program, following a daily schedule that includes therapy, school, play, and daily living experiences. This schedule is designed to provide support during a crisis, teach important coping skills, and assess their needs and strengths.

A child psychiatrist will coordinate your child’s clinical assessment and care, including a psychopharmacological (medication) assessment. The psychiatrist works closely with a clinical case manager to ensure coordinated care and keep parents and caregivers informed about treatment options and recommendations.

Our clinical case managers coordinate the professionals involved in your child’s care, both within and outside the hospital. They serve as advocates for your child when arranging community support services and actively listen to and address the concerns of parents and caregivers. They also work collaboratively with parents and caregivers to identify support services and community resources for your child after discharge.

Your child will participate in individual, group, and family therapy based on their individual needs and treatment plan. Therapy is provided by our expert and caring psychiatry, psychology, and social work staff.

We prioritize your child’s education while in our inpatient program. Our clinical educators provide instruction tailored to their individual needs, and with your consent, they maintain contact with your child’s local school system to support their academic progress.

For details about this program, please contact

Ralph Buonopane, Ph.D.
Director, Child and Adolescent Inpatient Mental Health Program
617-779-1689

To contact the 24-hour referral line for our inpatient psychiatric program, please call 800-333-0338.

Get In Touch

Visit Us

We are here to help. Visit us at 30 Warren Street, Brighton, MA, minutes from the Mass Pike, Commonwealth Avenue, and the Longwood Medical Area.

Contact Us

We want to hear from you! Reach us by calling 617-254-3800 or fill out our contact form. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 911.

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