Section 28.17 - Community Crisis Stabilization Services for Youth (YCS)(1) Youth Crisis Stabilization (YCS) is a sub-acute community-based mental health treatment service for youth who have emotional or behavioral issues or comorbid emotional or behavioral issues with substance use disorders who are in need of crisis stabilization in a 24-hour unlocked community treatment setting.(2) The primary objective of YCS is to provide short-term (one to five days) crisis stabilization, therapeutic intervention, and specialized programming with a high degree of supervision and structure. YCS is designed to improve functioning; strengthen the resources and capacities of the youth, family, and other natural supports; and ensure a timely return to the youth's previous living environment. While the anticipated length of stay for this service is one to five days, a person's actual length of stay is based on the documented clinical assessment.(3) Services shall include comprehensive assessment and treatment by a multidisciplinary team; psychiatric evaluation, substance use screenings, pharmacological assessment, nursing; individual, group, and family therapy; care coordination; family consultation; peer and family support; and discharge and transition planning, including referrals for post discharge assessment and treatment of substance use disorders. The YCS provider must develop a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, and individualized treatment plan that is frequently reviewed and updated based on the youth's clinical status and response to treatment. The treatment plan shall include provision for the coordination of services with the youth's existing or newly established treatment provider(s).(4)Admission Criteria. Persons who meet the following criteria may be admitted to a YCS service for youth:(a) The person shall be 13 years of age up to and including 18 years of age for admission to a Class II licensed service and 12 years of age or younger for admission to a Class III licensed service.(b) The person must demonstrate symptoms consistent with a diagnosis specified in the current edition of the DSM which requires and can be reasonably expected to respond to therapeutic intervention within a brief period.(c) The person must be experiencing a serious emotional or behavioral challenge in the home, school, or community, and is not sufficiently stable, emotionally or behaviorally, to be treated outside of a highly structured, 24-hour therapeutic environment.(d) The person must require intensive treatment intervention to stabilize their acute mental health needs and need extra support, linkage and services.Adopted by Mass Register Issue 1345, eff. 8/11/2017.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1479, eff. 9/30/2022.