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 | Nov 4, 2015
Hospital designers get the scoop on the role of innovation in healthcare
“Innovation” was the byword as 175 healthcare designers gathered in Chicago for the American College of Healthcare Architects/AIA Academy of Architecture for Health Summer Leadership Summit.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 2, 2015
Final funding comes through to complete over-budget and behind-schedule Denver VA Medical Center
The Department of Veterans Affairs, cited for its mismanagement, is stripped of control over future major construction.
Healthcare Facilities | Oct 23, 2015
Mortenson study: Healthcare providers optimistic, but want changes to Affordable Care Act
The 2015 Mortenson Healthcare Industry Study found that 76% of providers are at least optimistic about the future of healthcare, but eight out of 10 would like to see changes made to ACA.
Healthcare Facilities | Sep 29, 2015
The ever changing physician real estate market
In the United States, the environment where outpatient healthcare is being delivered is as dynamic and diverse as the more high profile office and retail markets, writes CBRE Healthcare's Nelson Udstuen.
Healthcare Facilities | Sep 21, 2015
5 reasons healthcare organizations are implementing finish standards on construction projects
The desire for improved patient satisfaction, staff retention, and turn-key maintenance are among the top reasons more healthcare groups are implementing finish standards in their spaces, according to VOA Associates' Lauren Andrysiak.
Healthcare Facilities | Sep 11, 2015
Health Product Declaration Collaborative releases updated HPD Open Standard – Version 2.0
Advances transparent disclosure of building product contents
Healthcare Facilities | Aug 28, 2015
Hospital construction/renovation guidelines promote sound control
The newly revised guidelines from the Facilities Guidelines Institute touch on six factors that affect a hospital’s soundscape.
Healthcare Facilities | Aug 28, 2015
7 (more) steps toward a quieter hospital
Every hospital has its own “culture” of loudness and quiet. Jacobs’ Chris Kay offers steps to a therapeutic auditory environment.
Healthcare Facilities | Aug 28, 2015
Shhh!!! 6 ways to keep the noise down in new and existing hospitals
There’s a ‘decibel war’ going on in the nation’s hospitals. Progressive Building Teams are leading the charge to give patients quieter healing environments.
Mixed-Use | Aug 26, 2015
Innovation districts + tech clusters: How the ‘open innovation’ era is revitalizing urban cores
In the race for highly coveted tech companies and startups, cities, institutions, and developers are teaming to form innovation hot pockets.