OMAHA — A new pediatric mental health center in Omaha, designed to offer immediate care and specialized services for youth, is on track for a January 2026 opening. The Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Children’s Nebraska will span 107,250 square feet across seven acres of the Children’s medical campus at 84th Street and West Dodge Road.
This $114 million project has been in the works since 2021, following the efforts of philanthropist Ken Stinson, who assembled a team of mental health professionals to address the growing need for mental health services in the region. The center will focus on providing services to youth up to age 19, with an emphasis on accessibility and a “no wrong door” philosophy, ensuring every child who walks in will receive care.
A key feature of the center will be a 10,000-square-foot crisis assessment and stabilization station, designed to provide an immediate response to mental health crises. This will be the first facility of its kind in the region and one of only a few nationally. The center will allow children and families to receive an initial assessment and begin their treatment plan during the same visit, all in a welcoming and supportive environment.
“There are no exclusion criteria—every child will be seen,” said Stinson. “I think it’s going to be the best of its type in the country.”
Stinson, who is the retired chairman of Kiewit construction company, is no stranger to supporting mental health initiatives. He and others helped fund the creation of Omaha’s Lasting Hope Recovery Center in 2018, which provides mental health care to adults. Now, he expects the new pediatric center to serve not only the Omaha metro area but also youth from across Nebraska.
The $114 million project is funded by a mix of sources, including $16 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated by the Nebraska Legislature, $15 million from Children’s, which will operate the center, and the remainder from generous donors. The Mental Health Innovation Foundation, led by Stinson, is overseeing the planning and construction of the center.
The foundation’s research indicates that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, one in five children was affected by mental illness. The pandemic, however, significantly exacerbated these issues, contributing to increased rates of mental health struggles and suicides.
Stinson hopes that this new center will address the growing demand for pediatric mental health care in Nebraska and beyond, providing families with access to services that have long been lacking in the region.
