Wednesday, November 08, 2023
In a significant move to address the growing demand for mental health support among children and adolescents, Northwell Health has committed to investing $350 million over the next five years. Alongside this financial commitment, the healthcare provider is launching a $150 million fundraising campaign to expand pediatric behavioral health services throughout its network. The goal is to establish a pioneering center of mental health excellence that seamlessly integrates physical and mental health services for children.
The announcement of this initiative was made during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Cohen Children’s Medical Center, New York State's largest children's hospital. As part of the plan, a new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Pavilion will be constructed, connected to Cohen Children’s Medical Center and Zucker Hillside Hospital in Queens, NY. The 200,000-square-foot facility aims to redefine care standards by fully integrating physical and mental health care for children, serving as a national destination program.
The pavilion will feature over 100 inpatient beds exclusively dedicated to children and adolescents, alongside specialty ambulatory clinics for various disorders. Northwell Health intends to leverage its extensive expertise in children's clinical care, mental health, research, education, and medical training to set a new benchmark in pediatric mental health care.
Currently the largest provider of pediatric services in New York State, Northwell Health operates pediatric behavioral health urgent care centers in Nassau and Suffolk counties through Cohen Children’s Medical Center. These urgent care centers collaborate with Long Island school districts and parents to provide short-term treatment to young patients, with a focus on connecting them to long-term assistance when necessary. Northwell's school-based programs, spanning over 330 Long Island schools and reaching 200,000 students, have successfully reduced emergency room visits for mental health issues by 61 percent.
Source: businesswire.com
