The Mental Health Innovation Foundation, led by philanthropist Ken Stinson, broke ground on the Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha. The 107,250-square-foot, four-story facility will open in early 2026 on a seven-acre lot on the Children’s campus, offering a seamless continuum of care for children, teens, and families addressing a wide range of mental health challenges.
Mental health needs among area youth are significant. Even before COVID-19, one in five children experienced mental illness. The pandemic increased mental health challenges and suicide risk. Nationwide, mental health-related emergency room visits rose 24% among children ages 5 to 11 and 31% among those 12 to 17. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for youths; Nebraska exceeds national trends for adolescent suicide deaths ages 15 to 19.
The $110 million project budget is funded by donors, the State of Nebraska through the American Rescue Plan Act, the City of Omaha, and Children’s Hospital. The Center includes 38 single-occupancy inpatient beds more than doubling community capacity; a 10,000-square-foot Assessment Center providing screening and crisis stabilization—one of few such centers nationally and the region’s first; dramatically increased Partial Hospitalization capacity serving up to 40 children daily; an experiential kitchen for eating disorder patients; over 14,000 square feet for outpatient therapy and pediatric care; and nearly 8,000 square feet of expansion space for future programs.
Chanda Chacón, Children’s President and CEO, stated: “There is no doubt the Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Children’s will be world-class and have significant value with mental and medical services co-located on the same campus.” MHIF convened a community stakeholder steering committee including Boys Town and Creighton University, with Kiewit Building Group as design-builder and HDR as design partner.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.midwestmedicaledition.com/articles/mental-health-innovation-foundation-breaks-ground-on-behavioral-health-amp-wellness-center-at-childrens-and-releases-a-first-look-at-future-building