Stamford Health has opened its Bennett Child & Adolescent Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing (EmPATH) Unit at Stamford Hospital to treat children and adolescents in psychiatric crisis.
The unit and its companion PATHways Program create a continuum of care from crisis stabilization through outpatient support, marking the first EmPATH program in Connecticut designed specifically for children and adolescents and the state's second EmPATH unit overall. The Carl & Dorothy Bennett Foundation contributed $1 million toward the initiative.
The design reflects a broader shift toward trauma-informed, developmentally sensitive treatment. Raviv Berlin, MD, Chair of Psychiatry at Stamford Health, said, "This is about meeting the youth in our community where they are, when they need us most. Our new EmPATH Unit allows us to deliver the right care, in the right setting, at the right time, while treating every patient with empathy, dignity, and respect."
Patients, including those under involuntary psychiatric detention, are evaluated and stabilized within 24 to 48 hours before discharge decisions are made, easing the transition to the next level of care. The 12-week outpatient PATHways Program then continues that care with the same clinical team, providing structured therapy and coordination while patients await longer-term services.
The opening reflects a recently identified community priority. "As outlined in our annual Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), behavioral health remains the #1 unmet need in our community," said Kathleen Silard, President and CEO. "With the launch of the Bennett Child & Adolescent EmPATH unit and PATHways Program, we are addressing a critical health need while expanding access to timely, developmentally appropriate care for young patients and their families during moments of crisis."
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said, "Every child deserves access to timely behavioral health care, especially during a crisis. As we continue to confront a youth mental health crisis, I commend Stamford Health for its work in expanding access to the compassionate, specialized care our children, families, and community need. I am proud to have helped secure funding for this new EmPATH Unit and PATHways Program."
"Access to top-quality behavioral health care services, including among children and adolescents, is critical to strengthening overall health and providing timely crisis intervention," said Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. "Stamford Health's expansion of mental health services helps Connecticut broaden our ability to ensure that everyone in need of this care has the support they deserve."
The Bennett Child & Adolescent EmPATH Unit and PATHways Program are scheduled to open in August 2026, extending specialized behavioral health support to young patients and families across Fairfield County.
