The Katie Blessing Center in east Charlotte is a proposed facility that will offer services from urgent care to residential treatment for children ages 5 to 18.

The proposed 72-bed youth behavioral center plans to offer outpatient care, behavioral health urgent care, acute inpatient and residential treatment.

Data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services shows our state ranks 42nd among states with the highest prevalence and lowest access to mental health services for youth with more than 50 children sleeping in emergency departments each week.

“We have not done a good job for our youth, and they have nowhere to go. They’re stuck in hospitals. Parents don’t know how to help their kids with the issues that they’re experiencing,” Chief Operations Officer Tracey Hummel said.

She said the model of the Katie Blessing Center is unique.

“There’s truly a continuity of care for kids to come in with crisis, stay short term or long term, and then be able to access outpatient services all within one campus as part of their their healing,” Hummel said.

Katie Blessing Center Foundation Director of Strategic Planning Jamie Bearor is developing programming for the center.  She said she wants to redefine mental health for children.

“The lack of care but also the care that is offered for children is too institutionalized. Kids aren’t really getting better,” Bearor said…

 

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