Partial Hospitalization Programs

For Children, Youth and Teens

This one-to-three week outpatient program, commonly called “partial hospitalization,” helps children, youth and adolescents who are facing serious emotional or mental health problems.

In dedicated wings of the building, youth are grouped according to their grade in school in the following programs:

Child (grades 1-5)
Middle Youth (grades 6-8)
Teen (grades 9-12)

Each day, youth participate in five hours of the best evidence-based psychotherapeutic care, as well as two hours of school. Special education teachers from Duluth public schools are available to assure students stay on track and experience seamless transitions between Amberwing and their school.

Substance Use Disorder

Effective intervention when a teen is using alcohol or other drugs requires a comprehensive, compassionate approach. As part of partial hospitalization programming, our Amberwing Teen Program Team provides group psychoeducation and individual coaching to help teens address their substance use.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills

At the core of each program are Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills. Youth learn mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness skills that they practice while at Amberwing and utilize at home as well. Each program incorporates alternative therapies that enhance and reinforce skills learned, which may include music, drama, art, occupational therapy, spirituality and pet therapy.