North Central Health Care - Youth Crisis Stabilization Facility

Serving as an essential lifeline for children and youth up to age 17 with mental health challenges, this facility provides immediate intervention and stabilization in Wausau. A Medical Director and Clinical Supervisor manage the 24-hour care, which resolves patient concerns during their brief 2-5 day stay. The primary goal is to connect individuals with appropriate community resources for long-term recovery and sustained wellness. Stabilization begins immediately with personalized treatment plans using evidence-based therapies like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Patients engage in mandatory individual and group sessions that focus on developing essential coping, anger management, and self-expression skills. The multidisciplinary team works closely with each patient, establishing structured daily goals to ensure they actively build these skills during their stay. This focused skill-building integrates directly into the daily programming, which is carefully structured to support overall well-being. A typical day balances therapeutic and recreational activities including arts, music, cooking, and fitness, with dedicated time for mindfulness, life skills, and education. Before support can begin, crisis professionals conduct a thorough assessment to determine the appropriate level of care and confirm suitability for admission. The center serves a specific six-county region, operating as a certified youth crisis stabilization facility in Wisconsin. Families in Lincoln, Langlade, and Marathon counties contact the North Central Health Care Crisis Center to begin the process. Residents from Forest, Oneida, and Vilas counties initiate admission through The Human Service Center crisis program.