Every year, nearly 1,000 children in crisis are Baker Acted and brought to CHI’s adult Crisis Stabilization Unit. They are screened and processed before awaiting transfer to the appropriate facility. Sometimes this can take 10-12 hours or even days before a child is transferred to the next available bed, some as far away as Broward County. This severe shortage of children’s crisis centers means families may need to drive 100 miles or more to see their child. Children are suffering under this lack of access, and the tragic news headlines show the extent of the damage.
These issues cannot be ignored any longer. Since 1971, Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) has been a beacon of hope for the community, providing comprehensive primary and behavioral health care for people of all ages. We are committed to meeting the growing needs of our community and closing the gap to serve those most vulnerable.
For this reason, we have embarked on a $5.5 million fundraising campaign to build the first comprehensive Children’s Crisis Center in South Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.
The Children’s Crisis Center broke ground in May 2020 and has begun construction with an expected grand opening in early 2022. It will be located at 10300 SW 216 St., Miami, FL 33190, adjacent to CHI’s headquarters.
The Children’s Crisis Center will serve as a haven, where children with severe mental illness can heal. The 11,400-square-foot inpatient facility will be designed to provide 24-hour care in a warm and therapeutic environment. The secured 20-bed unit will house a team of board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, and mental health clinicians – each ready to offer comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and treatment of a variety of emotional and behavioral problems. Our goal is to provide full-service, comprehensive mental health care for children up to 17 years of age, regardless of their ability to pay.
Services will include:
*Patient names may have been changed to protect their privacy.
With your support, we can make a profound impact on the children and families we serve.
