Adolescent acute stabilization program (AASP)

Short-term, outpatient mental health treatment for teens with a goal of treating and stabilizing serious mental health issues.

When your teen needs urgent and intensive care for a mental health condition, Allina Health’s Adolescent Acute Stabilization Program (AASP) can help. AASP may be an option instead of hospitalization for mental health treatment or for care immediately following hospitalization. Our program is for teens 13-18 years old and lasts an average of 10 days.

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What is AASP?

We work with your teen and family to treat and stabilize serious mental health conditions. The Adolescent Acute Stabilization Program (AASP) takes place in a hospital, but participants don’t stay overnight. AASP is designed for teens who require urgent, more intensive care than is offered by other adolescent partial hospitalization programs.

The program meets Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We are closed for major holidays and weather emergencies (based on Minneapolis Public School District).

We focus on therapy and family dynamics including:

cognitive behavioral therapy
dialectical behavioral therapy
family therapy
group psychotherapy
nursing assessments
parent support groups
planning for returning to school
psychiatric evaluation and management

AASP is good for treating

anxiety
bipolar conditions
depression
parent-child conflict
psychosis
school avoidance
self-harming behaviors
trauma.

What to expect from the program

A typical day looks like this:

9-10 a.m. Check-in/Goal Setting
10-11 a.m. Healthy Habits
11 a.m.-noon Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Noon-1 p.m. Lunch and Social Skills
1-2 p.m. Group Therapy
2-3 p.m. Distress Tolerance and Safety Planning

More information on AASP

An intake with a mental health professional is required for admission. Intakes are done Monday through Friday by appointment. You may be referred to our program from many health care settings.

A parent must be present to complete your teen’s admission intake on the first morning. You also must be available by phone for daily contact with staff and an in-person family therapy session (times vary). A virtual parenting support group meets on Thursdays from 2-3 p.m. and is recommended for parents, but is not required.

Insurance

Most health insurance plans cover mental health treatment through a partial hospital program. Please call your insurance company to verify coverage and ask about coverage for Partial Hospitalization.

For referring providers, parents, and 18-year-old patients

To make a referral or inquire about program admission, please call the 24/7 Allina Health Connection Line at 1-866-603-0016 to speak with a representative to contact the staff or to leave your contact information.

Transportation

Parents and guardians are responsible for arranging and confirming daily transportation of your child. Contracted transportation through insurance or your home school district is accepted. Please note that not all school districts will transport to our program because there is no school educational component.

Meals

Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided as part of the program.

Other mental health programs for adolescents