The Crisis and Transition Services (CATS) Model: A Program to Divert Youths in Mental Health Crisis From the Emergency Department.

The Crisis and Transition Services (CATS) program is a novel approach to safely transitioning youths from the emergency department to outpatient care. The program provides intensive community-based support during the high-risk period after discharge from the emergency department. Preliminary results indicate that the CATS program is reaching youths in a short time frame, engaging families in comprehensive safety planning, connecting youths with ongoing outpatient services, and improving family confidence in navigating mental health crises.