Psychiatric residential treatment centers in North Carolina will test a new de-escalation method for dealing with youth in crisis, the state Department of Health and Human Services announced last week.
Commonly known as PRTFs, these facilities offer inpatient treatment for children with complex behavioral health needs. When one of these patients gets angry or agitated, staff will often put them in restraints or isolation rooms. These practices have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers in North Carolina and investigations in other states.