Children’s Health will fund pediatric unit at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission -- UT Southwestern Medical Center psychiatric hospital

DALLAS (Sept. 9, 2022) – Children’s Health℠, one of the largest and most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country and the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, today announced that Children’s Health will initiate and create an approximately 100-bed inpatient unit at the new State Psychiatric Hospital for children and adolescents. The adult hospital is being developed through a partnership between UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The pediatric unit is in addition to 200 adult beds at the new state hospital, which is currently in the planning stages of design and construction and expected to open in fall 2025 with the pediatric addition scheduled to open in early 2026.

“This donation is a key part of our comprehensive strategy and ongoing commitment to expand access to pediatric and adolescent behavioral health services in North Texas,” said Lindsey Tyra, executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Children’s Health. “We know that addressing this growing pediatric mental health crisis requires a concerted, coordinated response from resources and experts across our community. In collaboration with UT Southwestern through our joint pediatric enterprise, we are building a sweeping and forward-looking approach to this escalating problem that will also be part of a larger statewide system.”

According to the Children’s Health 2021 Beyond ABC Report, an estimated 133,375 North Texas children suffer from an emotional disturbance or addictive disorder, and in 2020 alone, there was a 24% increase in mental health-related Emergency Room visits for children ages 5 to 11. By supporting the expansion of inpatient pediatric psychiatric services at the new state hospital, more North Texas children and adolescents through age 17 with complex mental health needs will have access to behavioral health services when they need it most.

“Our goal is to build a state-of-the-art facility that meets the needs of the communities we serve,” says Dr. Hicham Ibrahim, professor of psychiatry and Associate Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Ambulatory Services at UT Southwestern. “This donation gives us the opportunity to better address the mental health crisis affecting pediatric patients in our region and provide them with the specialized care they deserve.”

“This hospital will save lives, and with this donation, that’ll include the lives of children as well,” said Scott Schalchlin, deputy executive commissioner for the HHSC Health and Specialty Care System. “By expanding access to children and adolescents, we’re helping to address a truly critical need in our communities: taking care of the mental and physical health of our young people.”  

For updates on the hospital’s progress and additional information on how Children’s Health is working with UT Southwestern and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, visit State Hospital Construction Projects.

About Children’s Health℠

Children’s Health℠ is committed to making life better for children. As one of the largest and most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country and the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, Children’s Health cares for children through more than 750,000 patient visits annually. The Children’s Health system includes its flagship hospital, Children’s Medical Center Dallas, as well as Children’s Medical Center Plano, the Children’s Health Care Network, specialty centers, rehabilitation facilities and physician services. Children’s Medical Center Dallas continues to be the only North Texas hospital to be ranked in 10 out of 10 pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. Through its academic affiliation with UT Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s Health is a leader in life-changing treatments, innovative technology and ground-breaking research. This affiliation led to establishing the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute in 2011, committed to pursuing research in regenerative medicine, cancer biology and metabolism. For more information, follow Children’s Health on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube, or visit Childrens.com.

About UT Southwestern Medical Center

UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 26 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 17 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 2,900 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 4 million outpatient visits a year. 

About Texas Health and Human Services

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission owns or operates 10 state hospitals, one residential treatment center and 13 state supported living centers across the state. State hospitals provide inpatient psychiatric services to adults, children and adolescents, and state supported living centers serve individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. HHSC is also working to serve the growing needs of Texans by modernizing or expanding state hospitals throughout Texas and building a new hospital in Dallas.