Novant Health to open urgent care at youth mental health center in east Charlotte
Novant Health is investing $2.5 million in a behavioral health hospital for teenagers and children in Charlotte.
The Winston-Salem based health care company is making plans to join the Katie Blessing Center, a $62 million project from Starmount Healthcare, Novant announced in a news release. Thursday. It will provide services for people ages 5 to 18 with a goal to have quick access for interventions.
Novant is opening a behavioral health urgent care space for adolescents at the hospital.
It will have intervention services for young people with mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, according to Dr. Sid Fletcher, Novant senior vice president and president of the Charlotte region. Nearly 1 in 4 children and adolescents experience these disorders, Fletcher added.
The Katie Blessing Center is scheduled to open next year at 5516 Central Ave. Starmount bought the 5-acre site from the city of Charlotte for $2.7 million in 2023.
Its namesake comes from Starmount founder Michael Estramonte’s mother.
Novant’s urgent care facility at the center is set to launch during the first phase of the facility’s opening. It will be for children ages 4 and older. Some of the services will be related to mental health, autism, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Patients will receive an assessment from a licensed clinician within 30 minutes after arriving. Novant said it will be a one-stop shop for stabilization, crisis intervention and referral to care on the campus or a discharge.
Before leaving, each patient will receive personal plans, therapy, medication and referrals to a specialist.
Progress continues for new Charlotte center
Some of the features for the 70,000-square-foot facility with 72 beds will include therapy rooms, group activity areas, a gym, tutoring center, salon, barbershop, animal therapy and outdoor spaces, The Charlotte Observer reported last year.
The Katie Blessing Center is raising money through public donations, capital investment, and naming opportunities for amenities within the center.
“Since announcing the facility, we’ve been profoundly grateful for the support we’ve received, but our work is far from over,” Estramonte said in a news release. He said it’salso important for other to join the effort to help children receive mental health services.
Along with Novant, the Katie Blessing Center has received help from the city of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and Alliance Health. Collectively, they have contributed $10 million. This has allowed for demolition to start on phase one of the project, which includes 48 inpatient beds and the urgent care unit.
The non-profit is looking to raise another $17.7 million to construct the three-story addition, which includes another 24 beds and additional recreational space.
Starmount has committed $20 million in funding to the project and received $17.5 million in state funding, the Observer reported last year.
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held this year, according to a representative for Starmount.
More on Novant and Starmount
Novant is the second largest health care provider in the region, behind Charlotte-based Atrium Health. Its network has more than 900 locations, including 19 hospitals, 750 physician clinics, urgent care centers, outpatient facilities and imaging services.
Starmount was founded in 2014 and operates several affiliated services such as StarMed Healthcare.
StarMed opened in 2018 as a 24/7 walk-in clinic and immediate care center for underserved communities. During the COVID pandemic, it managed thousands in 40 counties in North Carolina. More than 2 million vaccines, tests and antibody treatments were distributed during the pandemic.
