Youth Facility-Based Crisis (FBC) Center
The Youth Facility-Based Crisis (FBC) Center is a place of hope and healing for children and teens who are going through a mental health or substance use crisis. The center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year and accepts referrals from anywhere in North Carolina.
The FBC provides a safe, secure setting where trained staff and a psychiatrist work together to help kids start feeling better. Most stays are short — usually five to seven days — and focus on calming the crisis, figuring out what care is needed and planning for next steps. If needed, the program can also help with medical detox, to help young people safely stop using drugs or alcohol when their body has become dependent on those substances. Eight beds in the Youth Facility-Based Crisis Center are devoted to young people with a substance use disorder.
This program gives families an alternative to going to the hospital when a child is in crisis and can support kids who choose to come for help and those who are there under an involuntary commitment (IVC).
Eligibility
Care is available for young people ages 6 to 17 who are experiencing a mental health crisis, with symptoms including:
Suicidal/homicidal ideations, and/or demonstrating self-injurious behaviors, with an inability to guarantee safety in a less restrictive environment
Hallucinations/delusions that may affect daily functioning
Behavioral problems that are unable to be managed in a lower level of care
A need to be evaluated for psychiatric medications
Psychiatric needs and medical needs, which are controlled through medication (must bring medications from home in pill bottles or bubble packs)
Admission is available for children and teens who:
Desire an alternative to inpatient hospitalization, but still need a secure environment for psychiatric treatment and stabilization
Have medical needs that can be safely managed in a non-medical setting
Are ambulatory and not in need of IV medications and IV fluids
Have mental health or substance use disorder needs and/or a mild intellectual or developmental disability
What to Expect During a Stay
When a young person comes to the Youth Facility-Based Crisis (FBC) Center, our goal is to help them feel safe and supported as they work through a mental health or substance use crisis.
- Arrival and Welcome: When the child arrives, staff greet them and explain what will happen next. Parents or guardians are involved in the process to make sure everyone feels comfortable.
- Assessment: A counselor or nurse talks with the child and family to understand what’s going on. They ask questions about feelings, behaviors and health to create an appropriate plan for care.
- Safe Environment: The child stays in a secure, calming space with trained staff available 24/7. There are bedrooms, common areas, therapy rooms and places for quiet time.
- Daily Support: Each day, the child meets with counselors and participates in activities that help them cope — like talking about feelings, learning calming techniques and practicing healthy habits.
- Medical Care if Needed: If the child needs medication or medical detox, a doctor or nurse will provide care and monitor them closely.
- Family Involvement: Parents or guardians are included in planning and receive updates and communication from the child’s care team. They may join family sessions to learn how to support their child at home
- Connection to Care: Before leaving, each young person receives referrals for any needed support and treatment like ongoing therapy, psychiatric care or community-based or residential programs that can best support his/her/their individual needs.