The new Pediatric Behavioral Health Center of Excellence is in partnership with the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
Pine Rest officials say West Michigan is in dire need of the new pediatric center, as the health system has seen a dramatic increase in the number of children and adolescents experiencing a mental illness-who often have to wait weeks or months for treatment.
Dubbed the Pediatric Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, the facility will be constructed on Pine Rest’s 68th Street campus in Cutlerville—it includes 88 beds, psychiatric urgent care, a crisis stabilization unit, and specialty outpatient clinics for young people experiencing mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or eating disorders.
Dr. Mark Eastburg, is President and CEO of Pine Rest. He said Thursday there is a “crushing need” for mental health treatment among children and adolescents:
“Mental health problems and the chronic shortage of services made worse by the pandemic have been robbing our kids of the joy we all want for them,” said Eastburg. “The Pediatric Behavioral Health Center of Excellence will help our community and state become a place where none of our kids will have to wait weeks or months for world class mental health care.”
The price tag of the expansion will cost $62 million- 38 of which comes from Michigan’s new budget that Governor Whitmer signed on Wednesday. Pine Rest hopes to raise the remaining $24 million through a capital campaign.
