In September 2024, WellStone, North Alabama’s largest and most comprehensive mental healthcare provider, and a 501(c)3 nonprofit, opened the state’s first 24/7 pediatric psychiatric unit. Since then, the 24-bed, 12,000-square-foot crisis care center for individuals aged 12-18 has served 400 individuals.

In the spring of 2021, WellStone’s Be the Rock capital campaign was launched to raise funds for psychiatric care for adults. The campaign was later expanded to include the pediatric unit.

At a Be the Rock Reception on January 29, WellStone supporters and staff gathered to celebrate a successful first year of operation for this unit.

At the event, WellStone CEO Jeremy Blair said local resident support has been essential to WellStone’s success in providing mental health care.

“None of this is possible without the community support. You all and the Huntsville community have always been so supportive of what we’re doing and where we’re going and where we’re continuing to go,” Blair said.

Blair continued, “I appreciate all the work and the support that you’ve given as we continue to look at what’s next for us.”

WellStone Development Director Karen Petersen also thanked supporters for their role in helping make the pediatric unit a reality.

“Thanks to the many supporters who stepped up, we were able to raise charitable funds to support WellStone Emergency Services. Now both the adult and pediatric units are up and running, filling what had been a huge gap in care for our community. We are all so grateful to everyone who contributed to this project,” she said.

Prior to the opening of WellStone’s pediatric facility, an inpatient facility for children experiencing a mental crisis did not exist in the Huntsville area.

According to Blair, over 600 pediatric patients needing psychiatric care were sent out of Madison County to Decatur, Birmingham, Mobile, Chattanooga, and Dothan to get the help they needed.

“We just knew as a community, there was a better way, and we felt like it was our responsibility to step up and find that better way,” Blair said.

To Blair, WellStone serving 400 pediatric patients in a year was a clear indication that the demand for pediatric psychiatric care exceeded the nonprofit’s initial expectations.

“What that also tells me is the need was even actually greater than what we even thought. Our goal was to at least get half of that 600, but we’ve surpassed that,” he said.

At the event, Blair also announced that the pediatric unit has expanded its range of care to serve patients as young as eight years old. Before admitting younger patients, he said WellStone wanted to be sure it could effectively serve 12- to 18-year-olds.

Looking ahead, Blair addressed North Alabama’s growth and the challenges that come with meeting mental health needs as the region continues to expand.

“We know we have a growing community, that’s not really a shocker. Our physical infrastructure is always important, and it’s got to keep up with our growth, but also our social services infrastructure has to continue to keep up with that growth so that we can continue to be the city that we want to be,” Blair said.

He also said he is proud of how the hard work of WellStone’s over 600 employees has resulted in better and more expansive levels of mental health care for North Alabamians in recent years.

“We are making progress. All of the things that we are doing are definitely making a difference, and we just want to acknowledge that,” Blair said.