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Joint venture opens door to more mental health care

At a special ribbon cutting ceremony of the opening of the Children’s Mercy and Camber Mental Health Mental Wellness Campus last month, the President and CEO of Children’s Mercy, Paul Kempinski, MS, FACHE, said it best.

“A bold initiative like this doesn’t happen without a great partnership like this,” he said at the ceremony.

Two simple words – bold and partnership – now means so much to so many.

The Mental Health Campus began as a dream, born of a relationship.

More than five years ago, Jason Hooper, the CEO of KVC Health Systems, and Kempinski began discussing what the needs were in the community and where they needed to focus their efforts. From those conversations, a partnership was created.

And last week, a new chapter in mental health care began with the opening of a 72,700 sq. ft., state-of-the-art mental wellness campus. This $53 million facility is designed to address the urgent and growing demand for inpatient youth and adult mental health treatment, offering care to more than 3,400 clients annually.

The campus features a 72-bed hospital and aims to fill a critical gap in mental health care, particularly for young patients. Last year alone, more than 4,000 children and teens visited Children’s Mercy’s emergency room for behavioral health challenges, and one out of every five required inpatient care — a resource often hard to find.

This bold, joint venture between Children’s Mercy and KVC Health Systems opens so many opportunities for help in the world of mental health. Camber Mental Health will operate the Olathe campus.

The mental health campus, featuring 48 pediatric beds (ages 6 to 18) and 24 adult beds (ages 18 and older) in fully separate units. It features six interior and exterior courtyards, large dayrooms, and dining and activity spaces.

A Response to Urgent Need

“We aren’t going to fix everything with our hospital, but we hope that we make a positive contribution,” Sara Schlagel, LSCSW, LCSW, Senior Vice President at Children’s Mercy + Camber Mental Health said.

She emphasized the overwhelming need for mental health beds. She said, “The number of children who had been waiting for a bed was just not OK.”

Hooper echoed this sentiment at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “We were at a point of crisis. People in need of mental health help don’t know who to go to or even who to ask,” he said.

The campus is designed to provide acute care services for children and adults during mental health crises. The goal is to offer a safe, supportive environment for individuals to reset, heal, and move forward.

A Unique, Evidence-Based Design

What sets this mental health campus apart is its intentional design, which incorporates evidence-based practices and environmental considerations to enhance patient care.

  • Natural light and calming aesthetics: Large windows and natural light feature prominently, recognizing the impact of light on mental health. The colors and flooring throughout the facility were carefully chosen to create a calming and safe atmosphere.
  • Expressive therapies: Patients have access to art, music, and recreational therapy, with dedicated therapists working with youth and adults alike. A multipurpose space facilitates group therapies, offering patients additional opportunities to engage and heal.
  • Best Practices from across the U.S.: Lessons learned from a hospital opened in Wichita five years ago and insights from facilities across the nation were integrated into the campus’s design, ensuring it meets the highest standards of care.
  • Attending to employee needs, too: The new facility includes features that ensure employees have a space to regroup, recharge, and to be their best selves when they’re at work, too. Mental health is a priority – whether working with patients or with employees.

“We’ve utilized state-of-the-art environmental considerations and evidence-based practices that help us provide services in a way that we’ve never been able to provide before,” Schlagel said.

Community Support

The realization of this campus was made possible through the generosity of organizations and individuals. Major contributors included the Sunderland Foundation, the State of Kansas, For the Kids Foundation, Kao Family Foundation, and many additional caring individuals.

A Vision for the Future

This campus represents a significant step forward in addressing the mental health crisis. As Schlagel said, “This is an accumulation of our own experience over the years to really make this hospital unique.” The facility is a testament to innovation, collaboration and the shared commitment to improving lives during the hardest times.

This new mental health campus stands as a beacon of hope, offering critical care to individuals and families when they need it most.

Growing Together

With growth comes growing challenges and KVC is no different than any organization, company or small business entrepreneur. 

Check out some of the great career options with KVC here. From case workers to nurses, behavioral health techs to direct care professionals, at KVC you’ll become part of a close-knit team and feel the deep sense of meaning. See why here.