A Milestone Moment for Children’s Mental Health in Missouri

On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the joint venture between St. Louis Children’s and KVC Health Systems marked a major milestone.  These leading healthcare organizations came together for a Topping Out Celebration for a new, state-of-the-art 77-bed mental health hospital – slated to open in late 2026 on the KVC Missouri Children’s Mental Wellness Campus. A Topping Out ceremony marks the placement of the final steel beam, symbolizing the collaboration and compassion driving this project.

Why Now — And Why This Partnership

The need is urgent. According to Mental Health America, Missouri ranks 29th nationally for youth access to mental health services (Mental Health America, 2025). Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among Missourians aged 10 to 34 (Missouri Institute of National Health, 2018). At the same time, the Greater St. Louis region faces a significant shortage of nearly 150 inpatient pediatric mental health beds, limiting timely access for youth in crisis.

Recognizing this urgent need, St. Louis Children’s launched a nationwide search for a partner who shared its vision and commitment to building a stronger mental health system for the region. They found that partner in KVC Health Systems, a nationally respected leader in children’s mental health care and a trusted resource for schools, hospitals, state agencies and families across the Midwest and beyond. Together, they unite KVC’s national leadership in behavioral health innovation with world-class expertise from St. Louis Children’s and WashU Medicine specialists.

Community, legislative, and health care leaders come together to mark progress on the Children’s Mental Wellness Campus (from left): Kimberly O’Connor-Soule; Valerie Huhn; Rep. Dirk Deaton; Lindsey Stephenson; Trish Lollo; and Jason Hooper

When this hospital opens in late 2026, it will expand access to world-class mental health treatment for children and teens across St. Louis and beyond. Outpatient services for youth, including a partial hospitalization program and an intensive outpatient program, will also be offered in a separate, fully renovated building on the KVC Missouri campus.

“Today reflects so much progress on a venture that’s going to be a gamechanger for the children and families not only in the St. Louis community, but across the region, who need – deserve – vital mental health care,” said Trish Lollo, President, St. Louis Children’s. “This campus, caring for some of our most vulnerable patients, isn’t just about doing what’s right for kids. It’s about saving lives. It’s about making a meaningful difference in the health of our community.”

A New Model for Healing and Connection

For children and teens experiencing anxiety, depression, the impacts of trauma, thoughts of suicide or other mental health challenges, St. Louis Children’s and KVC will offer expert mental health treatment in peaceful, intentionally designed spaces.

Families will have access to care across two separate facilities, a one-story hospital built specifically for pediatric inpatient and residential treatment, and a fully renovated building for outpatient treatment.

Guests tour the future hospital, getting an inside view of the hospital taking shape.

Across all levels of care, youth will receive compassionate care from pediatric mental health experts, including those from KVC’s inpatient treatment team, Camber Mental Health, WashU Medicine specialists from St. Louis Children’s, and KVC Missouri.

“Our approach combines trauma-informed care, evidence-based therapies, and a deep commitment to family involvement,” said Kimberly O’Connor-Soule, Senior Inpatient Officer of Camber Mental Health, a subsidiary of KVC Health Systems. “We focus not only on stabilizing crises, but on helping young people heal, find hope and build the skills they need to thrive long after they leave our care.”

Making This Vision Possible

A heartfelt thank you to our project team—the architects, engineers, planners, builders, and all the trade partners and tradespeople working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this vision a reality

A luncheon was hosted to thank and honor the construction crews and project partners whose dedication is bringing the Children’s Mental Wellness Campus to life.

We also extend our deepest gratitude to the state of Missouri, the Missouri Department of Social Services, the Legislature, Governor Mike Kehoe, and the Department of Mental Health. Your leadership, vision, and substantial support make transformative programs like this possible.

We are also very grateful to the many individuals and organizations who have generously supported this project.

Thank you to all who are championing youth mental health and making this vision a reality for the thousands of children and families who need and deserve this critical access to timely, high-quality care. Your partnership and belief in this mission are helping build a brighter, healthier future for our children.

Looking Ahead

Construction will continue through 2026, with all four levels of care opening to serve children and teens in late 2026. As the structure rises, so does our shared hope for a stronger system of care — one that meets children and families where they are, with compassion, connection and expertise.

Stay updated on construction progress, career opportunities and youth mental health services at: kvcmo.org/leadingchange.

Join Us in This Journey

This transformative project is made possible through the generosity and partnership of our community — and there is still important work ahead. Together, we are seeking the remaining $25 million for our new youth mental health care services.

To learn more about partnership and giving opportunities, contact:

Michelle Lawrence, President, KVC Foundation: mlawrence@kvc.org | (913) 226-2469

Matt Hayden, Director of Development, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation: matthew.hayden@bjc.org | (314) 397-5314.

For general questions or comments, please contact Lauren Hentchel with KVC Missouri at (844) 424-3577.

About St. Louis Children’s and KVC Health Systems

St. Louis Children’s is one of the premier children’s hospitals in the U.S., providing a full range of pediatric services, including a 14-bed pediatric behavioral health unit. The hospital is staffed by pediatric specialists at WashU Medicine. St. Louis Children’s is part of BJC Health System, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the U.S. and the largest in Missouri.

KVC Health Systems is a family of private, nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening families, preventing child abuse and neglect, and helping children and adults achieve mental wellness. With more than 65 locations across five states, KVC is a national leader in transforming health and human services. Subsidiaries include KVC Missouri and Camber Mental Health. The KVC Missouri Children’s Mental Wellness Campus in Webster Groves, MO offers a comprehensive continuum of care, including a K-12 alternative therapeutic school with autism services and extensive community-based family services. It’s the regional hub for KVC Missouri’s more than 20 locations across the state. Camber Mental Health provides high-quality treatment for youth and adults across the Midwest region. Leading the way in trauma-informed care for over 30 years, Camber operates four other children’s mental health hospitals.

WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with more than 3,000 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 83% since 2016. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently among the top five in the country, with more than 2,000 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations. WashU Medicine physicians exclusively staff Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals — the academic hospitals of BJC HealthCare — and Siteman Cancer Center, a partnership between BJC HealthCare and WashU Medicine and the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Missouri. WashU Medicine physicians also treat patients at BJC’s community hospitals in our region. With a storied history in MD/PhD training, WashU Medicine recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy and audiology and communications sciences.