Families with children who experience behavioral health issues often have to travel to multiple care facilities to see multiple teams of specialists. In Flint, Mich., the new Center for Children’s Integrated Services at Genesee Health System (GHS), a public mental health provider, brings together all of the GHS children’s programs, including its behavioral health programs, under one roof. It provides families a single destination for their children’s mental healthcare.
The facility aims to integrate and improve behavioral health care and primary care for underserved families. Designed by HED, the 60,000-sf facility unifies the three core children’s behavioral health programs—the Neurological Center for Excellence, Child and Family Services, and the Children’s Autism Center—as well as community outreach and a federally qualified health care center.
The Center for Children’s Integrated Services features a series of “autism pods” and an autism playground area. As a therapeutic tool, the playground allows children with autism to engage with nature through sensory-rich features. Autism has been one of the leading outcomes seen from the Flint water crisis, according to GHS.
HED designed the building’s layout to improve navigation and efficiency for patients, families, and medical staff, while also enhancing visibility and accessibility. The facility offers a secure drop-off area, a secure playground, a café, an outdoor plaza, and comfortable waiting areas.
In addition, the Center for Children’s Integrated Services will help develop medical innovation in the evaluation and treatment of lead poisoning. This work will inform best practices for treatment around the world.
The facility is located along a main bus line in Flint, improving transportation access to health services for low- and moderate-income families.
On the Building Team:
Owner: Greater Flint Children’s Mental Health Facilities, Inc.
Design architect and architect of record: HED
MEP engineer and structural engineer: HED
General contractor/construction manager: DW Lurvey Construction
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Jul 20, 2016
Process mapping simplifies healthcare design
Charting procedures and highlighting improvement opportunities can lead to developing effective design strategy simulations. GS&P’s Ray Wong writes that process mapping adds value to a project and bolsters team and stakeholder collaboration.
Sponsored | Building Technology | Jul 11, 2016
3D scanning technology solves University of Iowa Children’s Hospital’s curved wall curveball
Gilbane Building Company utilized advanced 3D scanning technology as part of a virtual design and construction (VDC) solution to ensure quality control throughout the lifespan of the project
Healthcare Facilities | Jul 7, 2016
How to navigate the tedious regulatory approval process in healthcare construction
Compliance processes can be handled efficiently with a little bit of foresight. CBRE's Patrick Duke, Kyle Marden, and David Vollmer evaluate the regulations and permits that may be required and the process for incorporating approvals into projects.
Healthcare Facilities | Jul 1, 2016
AIA releases summary of the 2016 Design and Health Research Consortium
Consortium members discussed how architects, designers, and health professionals can best apply design and health research in their communities.
Healthcare Facilities | Jun 19, 2016
Rapid growth of retail health clinics presents new choices for consumers, payers, and providers
Service expansions help dealers boost clinics’ profitability.
Healthcare Facilities | Jun 10, 2016
Top 10 health technology hazards include some influenced by space design
ECRI Institute’s annual list includes operational and workflow issues.
Healthcare Facilities | May 30, 2016
CBRE finds that investors are still flocking to healthcare sector
Over the past year, healthcare accounted for nearly one-fifth of all new jobs in the U.S.
Big Data | May 27, 2016
Analytics alone won't save money for healthcare facility owners
Advanced technology provides insight into the actions necessary to cut costs, but it's the people, processes, and implementation that make a difference with analytics, writes CBRE's Paul Oswald.
Hospital Design Trends | May 19, 2016
CannonDesign releases new white paper on advancements in operating room environments
"Surgical Suites: Emerging Approaches to Planning and Design" offers solutions for collaboration and technology integration.
Healthcare Facilities | May 6, 2016
Infographic: The greening of healthcare
By adopting green building and sustainable practices, healthcare facilities can save $15 billion over 10 years. Skanska's infographic spells it all out.
