27-07-2025
D.C.'s sole mental health crisis team for kids under threat in new budget
A long-running D.C. crisis response team, and the city's sole provider of emergency services for children experiencing mental health emergencies, could shutter next year under the budget awaiting approval by the D.C. Council, the program's advocates say.
The Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Service, more commonly called ChAMPS, is an emergency service for children and teens having mental or behavioral health crises — from thoughts of suicide to signs that they intend to harm others. It was created around 15 years ago, when there were few services available in schools for children in distress.
