CRYSTAL LAKE – Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health has partnered with Horizons Behavioral Health and the McHenry County Mental Health Board to provide a Crystal Lake-based partial hospitalization program for adolescents.
The program will start in early March at Horizons Behavioral Health, 500 Coventry Lane. Horizons will provide psychiatric care and Alexian Brothers will serve as the primary service provider. Programming will mimic what Alexian Brothers offers at its Hoffman Estates location.
“We have the biggest breadth of a day hospital in the area, so it was a natural partnership,” said Steve Hunter, Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health’s clinical director. “For several years, the county has wanted more intensive adolescent psychiatric services. … Centegra gave up [offering] adolescent inpatient and day programs, and there has been a vacuum.”
The program will be able to take up to 12 patients ages 12 to 17 – 18 if the patient still is in high school – at a time. It will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and serve teens who struggle with things such as mental illness and substance abuse.
Funding from the Mental Health Board means that no one will be turned away for lack of insurance, Hunter said.
“Kids will still have to get an assessment to determine a proper level of care,” Hunter said. “If they live in McHenry County and it’s appropriate, they can be admitted to the program regardless of insurance and ability to pay.”
Individuals who want to participate in the program must schedule an assessment at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health, which is located in Hoffman Estates. The call center's number is 855-383-2224.
An informational session about the program will take place at a luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota St., Crystal Lake.