With the snip of oversized scissors and an outpouring of community support, a ribbon fell in late November at Idaho’s newest psychiatric residential treatment facility. The opening of Headwaters Behavioral Health Center in Idaho Falls marked more than a ceremonial milestone; it represented the realization of a multi-year effort to bring intensive mental health care for children and adolescents back to Idaho.

The facility is one of three psychiatric residential treatment facilities, also called PRTFs, established statewide after Gov. Brad Little included $15 million in his 2022 budget to address a longstanding gap in Idaho’s behavioral health system. The funding, approved by the Idaho Legislature that same year, was designed to create inpatient psychiatric services for children and youth that were not previously available in Idaho.

The Department of Health and Welfare awarded grants to three partners capable of serving different regions of the state: Idaho Youth Ranch in southwest Idaho, Northwest Children’s Home in north Idaho, and Jackson House in east Idaho. Jackson House operates the Headwaters Behavioral Health Center. 

During the ribbon-cutting event in November, Jackson House President and CEO Bruce Figuered spoke about the urgent demand for youth mental health services across the state. He noted that Idaho’s youth suicide rate is 46.8%, higher than the national average.

Before the creation of PRTFs in Idaho, approximately 100 children each year were sent out of state to receive this level of care — often far from their families and communities. State leaders and stakeholders identified the lack of in-state inpatient psychiatric treatment as a critical gap in the continuum of care.

“This level of mental healthcare did not exist in Idaho, so these three facilities are filling a critical gap in our continuum of care for children and youth,” said DHW Behavioral Health Administrator Ross Edmunds. “Previously, around 100 kids were getting treatment in other states because we didn’t have these services available in Idaho.”

Headwaters Behavioral Health Center is designed to serve up to 40 adolescents ages 12 to 17. The program emphasizes structure, consistency, and active engagement in treatment.

Headwaters Program Director Lex Fanopoulous said the center’s therapeutic model will incorporate a variety of treatment methods including individual and group therapy, and nursing and medication support. He said treatment plans will be individualized and may include de-prescribing medications when appropriate.

Edmunds emphasized that community involvement was crucial to establishing Idaho’s approach.

After the Legislature approved funding, DHW conducted stakeholder engagement sessions across the state. Participants emphasized patient safety, asked about age limitations and prioritization of Idaho youth, and raised questions about coordination with neighboring states.

With that feedback, an application process involving multiple state agencies led to the selection of the three providers now operating PRTFs in Idaho.

“DHW is confident these strong partnerships will further Idaho’s ability to serve children with complex mental health diagnoses in Idaho,” Edmunds said. “This will also reduce the need for children to leave the state for care we simply didn’t offer.”

With the facilities operated by Idaho Youth Ranch and Northwest Children’s Home already underway, the opening of Headwaters Behavioral Health Center completes the three-facility vision first outlined by the Idaho Behavioral Health Council.

Headwaters Behavioral Health Center began serving youth on Jan. 1.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.