Virtual Ground-Breaking For Children’s Crisis Center

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”21121″ img_size=”800×600″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent” up=”15px” down=”15px”][vc_column_text]With children’s suicide rates up and related mental health issues on the rise, Community Health of South Florida (CHI) moved forward with a virtual groundbreaking for its Children’s Crisis Center, the first of its kind to serve children in crisis in southern Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.

On hand for the virtual ceremony was Brodes H. Hartley, Jr., president and CEO of CHI, who was joined by Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, Child Advocate David Lawrence, and foster mom, Miss Alina.

“The need for a children’s crisis center is more important than ever,” said Hartley, Jr. “We continue to see children suffering from behavioral health issues, with the global pandemic making them even more susceptible to mental crisis and making us all the more committed to seeing this center built.”

When fully built, the structure will have 20 sleeping rooms, plus play rooms, therapy rooms and much more designed to care for kids suffering from severe mental illness. Located adjacent to CHI’s Doris Ison Health Center at 10300 SW 216 St., it will treat about 1000 children annually.

More than 80 children per month are brought to CHI’s adult crisis center, which is not fully equipped to address the youth’s needs. The onset of the pandemic has only highlighted the urgency where the number of visitations never dropped

The 11,400 square foot building will provide 24-hour, comprehensive mental health care for children up to 17 years of age, regardless of their ability to pay. The construction of the building is projected to take about 18 months with $3.3 million left to raise to be on track to open.

WATCH THE VIDEO AND DONATE AT:

chisouthfl.org/groundbreaking[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]