Children & Teens · Texas behavioral health news
Parkland Health pilots youth mental health crisis response program - CW33.com
Youth Mental Health Texas (Google News) · April 14, 2026
In plain language
Parkland Health has launched a new pilot program in Dallas to help children and teenagers facing mental health emergencies. Special teams made up of social workers, paramedics, and police officers respond to 911 calls involving youth ages 10 to 17. Instead of just taking a child to a jail or hospital, these teams provide mental health support directly in the community. The goal is to safely calm the situation and connect Texas families to long-term care services outside of traditional emergency rooms.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- Parkland Health is piloting a specialized mental health crisis response program for Dallas youth ages 10 to 17.
- Teams respond to 911 calls daily from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. to provide on-scene support.
- The initiative aims to stabilize young people in the community rather than sending them to jails or emergency rooms.
- Early data shows the program successfully diverted 37 individuals from hospital care and provided follow-up support to families.
- Specialized staff are trained to handle stressors unique to children, such as school issues and family dynamics.
Parkland Health pilots youth mental health crisis response program CW33.com
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