When a young person arrives at the SECU Youth Crisis Center (YCC) in Charlotte, N.C. they are often in one of the most overwhelming moments of their life.
What happens next matters.
From the moment they walk through the doors, the focus is on creating a safe, supportive environment where they feel heard, understood and not alone. That approach builds on Monarch’s long-standing commitment to supporting youth and families and has helped establish a stronger model for crisis care since the center opened in 2018 — one that is now guiding what comes next.
The SECU YCC serves children and teens ages six to 17 experiencing mental health or substance use crises, including suicidal thoughts, self-injurious behaviors, hallucinations and other challenges that impact daily functioning. It also provides an alternative to inpatient hospitalization for those who can be safely supported in a structured, nonmedical setting.
Each stay is short term, typically lasting seven to 14 days, but the impact is designed to extend far beyond that window.
“We’re really here to help you navigate the next stage of your life,” said lead behavioral technician Terrance Shaw. “That starts with helping you feel comfortable, supported and connected.”
Care is tailored to each individual, bringing together psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and therapists to develop personalized treatment plans. Through a combination of individual therapy, group sessions and skill-building activities, young people learn how to manage emotions, identify triggers and build healthier coping strategies.
Occupational therapy (OT) plays a key role in that process at the SECU YCC, offering additional support that is unique to find in a behavioral health setting. Using various OT strategies, certified occupational therapists help participants develop life skills, practice de-escalation techniques and build routines that support long-term stability.
“The most impact we can have is in our ability to connect with kids and show that we care,” said Alison Johnson, director of occupational therapy. “That includes being authentic with each person, listening and meeting them where they are. That’s what stays with them.”
Beyond clinical care, the center also prioritizes everyday experiences that support healing, from schoolwork and journaling to recreational activities like games, basketball and yoga.
With space for up to 16 participants, the center’s smaller setting allows for more personalized attention and meaningful connections between staff and the people they support.
“It’s letting kids know they’re heard, we see them and they’re more than what’s written on paper,” said program manager Malcolm Evans. “Once they feel that support, they begin to open up and engage in their care.”
That model — rooted in connection, structure and individualized support — has become the foundation for how Monarch approaches youth crisis care.
Now, that same approach is expanding.
Monarch will staff a Youth Facility-Based Crisis Center (FBC) in Cabarrus County as part of the new Stephen M. Morris Behavioral Health Center in Concord, opening in mid-2026. The program will serve children and teens ages 6–17 and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing immediate support for those experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.
Like the SECU YCC, the Youth FBC in Concord will offer a safe, structured environment where young people can stabilize, begin treatment and connect to the services they need next. It will also provide families with an alternative to emergency departments and inpatient hospitalization, including for individuals arriving under involuntary commitment.
From the moment a young person arrives, care teams assess their needs, develop an individualized plan and provide daily support throughout their stay, always with a focus on what comes next.
“We are not our problems, and we are not our mistakes,” said case manager Jason Lutz. “We are here to help young people through that transition and connect them to what they need moving forward.”
Family involvement remains a central part of the model, with parents and guardians included in care planning, receiving regular updates and participating in family sessions to better support their child after discharge.
Whether at the SECU Youth Crisis Center or the future Stephen M. Morris Behavioral Health Center, the goal remains the same: to meet young people in crisis with compassion, provide stability in the moment and build a path toward long-term support.
Because in those critical first moments, care is not just about treatment — it is about connection, trust and the belief that something better is possible.
To learn more about our crisis services, visit MonarchNC.org. To get a sneak peek into the new Stephen M. Morris Behavioral Health Center that will house Monarch’s Youth FBC, visit the facility’s new website at ProgressStartsHere.org.