Elected officials, legislators, state agency leaders, foundations, faith-based partners and community supporters gathered today at Canopy Children’s Solutions’ CARES Center to celebrate the opening of a transformational expansion designed to increase access to specialized psychiatric residential treatment for Mississippi children with complex mental and behavioral health needs.
The ribbon cutting marks the culmination of a historic public-private partnership between Canopy, the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) and the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) to expand treatment capacity and address a critical gap in Mississippi’s continuum of care.
For more than 30 years, CARES Center has provided intensive, trauma-focused care for children and youth ages 6 to 17 from communities across Mississippi. As the state’s only nonprofit psychiatric residential treatment facility, CARES Center serves children with severe emotional and behavioral health needs.
“The most horrific and incomprehensible and traumatic backstories you can imagine will turn the corner up there on Woodrow Wilson and as they turn the corner onto West Street, they will be greeted by the one thing that will overcome everything – hope. Hope is real. Hope is a science. Hope overcomes. Hope wins. So today, we cut a ribbon. Tomorrow, we begin transforming lives through the unrelenting power of hope. Thank you, and welcome to the new CARES Center,” said Dr. John D. Damon, Canopy CEO.
Supported by a $20 million state investment matched with $5 million in federal funding, the expansion increases CARES Center’s capacity from 60 to 80 beds, adds five new residential cottages and includes renovations to existing facilities. The expansion also adds enhanced care specifically designed for youth with complex trauma and high-acuity behavioral needs.
“The impact of the CARES Center on Mississippi’s children and their families is immeasurable. For a child who has experienced trauma, having a safe place to heal changes the course of their life, and for families, it provides a hope when they may not know where else to turn. The Legislature’s investment in the CARES Center is something that cannot be fully comprehended because of the lasting impact this work will have on these children and their families for generations to come,” said Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann.
The expansion is part of a broader effort to strengthen Mississippi’s continuum of care for children and families. While some children can be safely supported through prevention, family preservation, foster care, reunification and community-based services, others require intensive residential treatment. For some youth with the most complex needs, traditional residential treatment may not provide enough support, while hospitalization may not be the appropriate long-term setting.
“Kids don’t lobby, and they don’t vote. So, it falls to us to speak for them. Investing in their mental and behavioral health is not optional. It’s a moral, economic, and public health imperative. When we build places like this, we ease the burden on our emergency rooms, our courts, and our schools. Most importantly, we give a child a chance at a better life,” said Representative Sam Creekmore.
The partnership behind the expansion reflects a shared commitment to not only increase specialized treatment capacity, but to continue developing pathways of care that meet children and families at different points of need.
“This partnership addresses a critical gap in our continuum of care by creating a safe, healing environment for children with significant emotional and behavioral health needs. What makes this accomplishment especially meaningful is that it could not have happened without partnership. Together, we recognized that the status quo was not good enough for Mississippi’s children, and we chose to do something about it. The opening of this building is not a finish line. It is the beginning of the next chapter.
We will continue expanding prevention and early intervention, strengthening families, building capacity, and bringing effective services closer to the children and communities that need them,” said Wendy Bailey, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.
Beyond increasing capacity, the expanded CARES Center was intentionally designed to support healing while recognizing that children receiving highly specialized clinical care are still children. Clinical expertise, trauma-informed care and hope are woven throughout the model, with color, creativity, imagination and play incorporated alongside treatment.
Rooted in Mississippi, the campus draws inspiration from the state’s native trees, animals and landscapes.
Magnolia and Oak Commons create cottage communities centered on belonging and growth, while strengths-based artwork throughout the campus uses familiar Mississippi wildlife to tell stories of resilience, courage and hope.
“Because of this investment, families will be changed. Children will be given a real chance at life, and they will know that people cared enough to invest in them,” said Andrea Sanders, Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services.
The opening of the expanded CARES Center represents more than additional beds. It strengthens Mississippi’s ability to connect children from across the state with the right care in the right setting while supporting a broader continuum focused on helping children heal, thrive and ultimately reach permanency in safe, loving homes.