The National Guidelines for Child and Youth Behavioral Health Crisis Care offers best practices, implementation strategies, and practical guidance for the design and development of services that meet the needs of children, youth, and their families experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Additional technical guidance is provided in a companion report produced by SAMHSA in conjunction with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, A Safe Place to Be: Crisis Stabilization Services and Other Supports for Children and Youth.

This guide reviews child welfare, substance use disorder services, and courts to support cross-system coordination within state, county, and tribal jurisdictions. It considers the framework, population, legislation, funding sources, and services for each system.

Using a case study approach, this manual presents resources to better understand and engage the community in responding to children whose caregivers are negatively impacted by mental illness, substance use, or trauma.