Partnership Matters

Transforming Lives in Our Community

Springtime is known to evoke a sense of growth, renewal and hope. And that certainly was the case this spring, as we broke ground on the renovation of our College Hill Campus—the largest inpatient pediatric mental healthcare facility in the nation.

A crisis has been growing in Cincinnati and across the country. Kids and teens are struggling with unprecedented levels of depression, anxiety, mood disorders and other serious mental health conditions, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our inpatient and outpatient programming at College Hill has transformed so many lives, but we know there’s more we can do.

And our friends at the Convalescent Hospital Fund for Children were eager to be a part of the solution. A longstanding supporter of the medical center, they made a transformational gift of $36 million—the single largest contribution in our nearly 140-year history. That gift is helping to renovate our College Hill facility and expand programming so we can better meet the needs of every child and family who needs this specialized and compassionate care.

We gathered a team of patient families and care providers and spent nearly two years designing the new building to promote healing and recovery at every turn.

They told us that private rooms and more access to natural light and outdoor spaces would help healing and the family experience. Our care providers needed additional therapy rooms and space for outpatient visits. And everyone agreed that our facility should feel comforting and warm to match the caliber of care we provide.

And the Convalescent Hospital’s gift goes beyond bricks and mortar. It will also help expand the innovative programs for which we’re known and advance lifesaving research focused on the mind, brain and behavior—creating a true hub for all of our psychiatric care.

While this gift was monumental, it won’t get us to the finish line. We need additional contributions from our community to make this facility a reality. 

“It’s a great investment that goes right back to the community,” explains Michael Sorter, MD, director of our Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. “We’ll be helping young people and their families get back on better paths that lead to happiness.”

To learn more or to support our mental health services, visit collegehillcampaign.org or contact Ashley Titus at 513-803-6593 or ashley.titus@cchmc.org.