Children & Youth Wellness Center

What Makes Us Different

Right now in Shelby County, when a child has a mental health crisis, families face impossible choices:

❌ Take them to a medical ER that isn't equipped for psychiatric emergencies ❌ Wait weeks or months for an appointment ❌ Watch them end up in juvenile detention for a mental health issue

That ends in Spring 2026.

The Children and Youth Crisis Wellness Center is Memphis's first 24/7 walk-in facility designed exclusively for children ages 4-17 in behavioral health crisis.

Think of us as your child's mental health emergency room – but designed specifically for young minds. We're not a hospital. We're not a clinic with long waits. We're something entirely new.

Immediate Stabilization

• 8 crisis stabilization beds for intensive short-term care

• 4 respite beds for monitoring and observation

• 3 flexible beds for exactly what your child needs

And Real Solutions

Your child won't just get stabilized and sent home. Our team works with your family to create a real plan forward. We connect you with schools, ongoing therapy, and community resources.

Family-Centered Care

This isn't happening to your family – we're walking with you. Our embedded Family Support Specialists understands because they've been where you are.

Services That Help

• Crisis Assessment & Stabilization Professional evaluation within minutes, not hours. We figure out what's happening and what your child needs immediately.

• Psychiatric Care On-site psychiatrists who specialize in children and adolescents. Medication management that actually makes sense for young people.

• Individual & Group Therapy Evidence-based treatment that works. Trauma-informed care that heals, not just treats symptoms.

• Family Support Because when your child is in crisis, your whole family needs support. We get that.

• Discharge Planning That Works We don't just stabilize and hope for the best. Before your child leaves, we've connected you with ongoing care, school support, and community resources.

Who We Serve

Ages 4-17 experiencing:

• Suicidal thoughts or self-harm

• Severe anxiety or panic attacks

• Aggressive behavior or violence

• PTSD symptoms

• Psychotic episodes

• Any mental health emergency

• Memphis and Shelby County families

• Services available regardless of ability to pay

Why This Matters Now

The reality: Shelby County has one of the highest rates of children visiting emergency rooms for psychiatric crises in Tennessee. Average wait times for youth mental health services? Over 6 months.

Your child can't wait 6 months when they're in crisis today.

That's why we exist. To bridge that gap. To be there for your family.

Real Impact, Real Results

Our Goals:

• Reduce psychiatric hospitalizations for children

• Keep kids out of juvenile detention for mental health issues

• Get children back in school faster

• Connect families with ongoing support that actually works

This is about crisis intervention. It's about giving your child's life a different trajectory.

Insurance & Payment

We accept most major insurance plans, including TennCare.

But here's our promise: No child will be turned away due to inability to pay.

We participate in Tennessee's Mental Health Safety Net Program and offer sliding scale payment options based on your family's income.

Getting Help

In Crisis Right Now?

Call our 24/7 Crisis Line: 901-369-1410

Walk-In Services

602 Malcomb Street, Memphis, TN 38103

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Opening Spring 2026

You're Not Alone

We know how scary this is. We know how helpless you feel when your child is struggling and you don't know where to turn.

But you found us. And that means your child is going to get the help they need.

We've been Memphis's largest behavioral health provider for over 40 years. We've walked with more than 22,000 families just like yours. We know the way through this.

Your child's crisis has an ending. We're here to help you find it.

The Children and Youth Crisis Wellness Center is part of Alliance Healthcare Services, Memphis's largest comprehensive behavioral health provider and proud member of the Tennessee Crisis System.