When it comes to youth mental health, timely access to services can often be the difference between treatment and crisis. Recognizing this critical need, Zepf Center embarked on a journey in 2023 to provide psychiatric urgent care services specifically tailored for youth. One year later, this initiative has not only filled a crucial gap in mental health services but has also reshaped the approach to youth mental health care in the community.

Led by dedicated professionals like Advanced Practice Nurse Katie Beach, Licensed Practical Nurse Mandy Phillips, and Clinical Director of Youth Crisis Services Renee Radford, LPCC-S, the inception of Youth Psychiatric Urgent Care (YPUC) Services at Zepf Center marked a significant milestone in addressing the mental health needs of young individuals.

Beach, whose journey in youth services began at the local agency Connecting Point, played a pivotal role in shaping and expanding these services. After transitioning to Zepf Center, she, alongside her colleagues Phillips and Radford, took on the challenge of shouldering the workload as the demand for youth psychiatric services grew. 

“The parents were desperate for help,” Beach said. “Everything feels like an emergency when your kid is struggling, and there were virtually no same-day services like we provide.”

As one of the first YPUC departments in the area, Beach and her team often had only their expertise and the guidance of fellow staff to work from. When faced with this challenge, they had no choice but to build the program from the ground up, following a similar structure as Zepf Center’s Adult Psychiatric Urgent Care department. 

“The early days were slightly chaotic, but they felt good,” said Radford. “We all were able to communicate and do whatever it took to care for these clients.” 

Launched in January 2023, the YPUC team’s main goal was to provide swift and comprehensive care for youth in crisis. Often at the first sign of distress, parents want their child to meet with a mental health professional— like a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner—to take the next step in their mental health journey. However, because of long wait times and lack of available appointments, options are often limited in traditional psychiatric settings.

“We needed to be able to get the kids in faster and provide them with true wrap-around services,” said Beach. “You have to treat them the second they are ready and not even a moment later.”

The unique success of Zepf Center’s YPUC model hinges on collaboration and innovation. Originally, Radford worked exclusively with the Mobile Response Stabilization Services (MRSS) team but soon found herself providing extra support to Beach and Phillips as YPUC continued to grow. The partnership grew naturally between the departments, allowing a wider range of services to be accessible to YPUC clients, and providing much-needed assistance for the small team.

Even one year after the program’s launch, YPUC continues to grow to meet the constantly increasing community need for services. Recently, Zepf Center welcomed two additional psychiatrists to support the YPUC staff. The added clinical knowledge and expertise of Drs. Mann and Qureishi have helped take the YPUC team to the next level.

By integrating various services and professionals, Zepf Center ensures that clients receive holistic care tailored to their needs. The involvement of the MRSS team exemplifies this collaborative approach. Whether it's providing immediate crisis intervention or facilitating access to ongoing treatment, these teams work seamlessly to address the complex needs of youth in crisis.

One of the defining features of Zepf Center’s YPUC is its ability to provide same-day access to quality, trauma-informed mental health services. This quick turnaround not only alleviates the immediate distress of clients and their families but also sets them on a path towards healing and recovery. This commitment to timely intervention underscores Zepf Center's dedication to prioritizing the well-being of its clients.

“Kids are impulsive, and their feelings are really big,” Beach said. “I think Zepf as a whole does a great job of prioritizing care for these kids because many times their treatment can’t wait.” 

Moreover, the community response to Zepf Center’s YPUC has been overwhelmingly positive. From healthcare professionals to educators, various community stakeholders have rallied behind this initiative, recognizing its impact on the lives of young individuals. This support network not only validates the importance of youth mental health but also fosters a sense of community cohesion in addressing these issues.

“Zepf Center’s Youth Psychiatric Urgent Care has proven to be an invaluable support for our students and their families,” said Jennifer Lawless, Senior Director of College & Career Readiness at Toledo Public Schools. “As a community, it is important to know that there are individuals available and ready to assist our youth in times of need and I believe that the YPUC serves this purpose perfectly.”

In addition to connecting youth the high-quality mental health treatment and forming lasting connections with community stakeholders, a study from Dr. Chandani Lewis at the University of Toledo found that youth who receive mental health services in an outpatient setting—as opposed to hospitalization—have improved outcomes and a reduction in future interactions with law enforcement. This means that access to YPUC services at Zepf Center leaves a lasting impact on not only the youth client, but on their family, neighbors, and communities as a whole. 

Looking ahead, the constant evolution of Zepf Center’s YPUC serves as a beacon of hope for vulnerable youth and their families. By breaking down barriers to access and providing comprehensive care, Zepf Center continues to redefine the standard of mental health services in the area.

“I always thank people for coming in,” said Phillips. “Explaining their feelings to us can be really hard and we want to make sure they know they came to a place that can give them help and hope.”

Zepf Center’s YPUC has not only been a triumph in the surrounding community but for the agency as well. The team has grown closer over the past year, and they have ample opportunities to witness the real impact they are having on their clients and their families.

“Through YPUC, Zepf Center had the opportunity to address a big gap in care for our clients and communities,” said Zepf Center CEO Deb Flores. “I had no doubt that this team would step up to the challenge, but what they accomplished over the past year is truly inspiring. 

Zepf Center’s Youth Psychiatric Urgent Care is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., and is located at 424 W. Woodruff Ave. in Toledo, Ohio. For more information, visit https://www.zepfcenter.org/crisis-care/ or click here.