Peace Garden News

On April 7, CHI St. Alexius Health, with the support from North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS), launched the Child and Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program. This initiative is set to enhance access to intensive home and community-based services for children and adolescents facing behavioral health conditions, including mental health or substance use disorders.

Katie Houle, HHS clinical administrator for the System of Care, emphasized the importance of partial hospitalization in the mental health service framework. "Partial hospitalization is an essential part of the children’s behavioral health service continuum," Houle stated. "Supporting CHI St. Alexius Health in developing this program helps fill a critical service gap. We are working to ensure that youth in the Bismarck-Mandan region can receive specialized care close to home, reducing the need for long-distance travel or inpatient stays."

CHI St. Alexius Health will hold a public open house to welcome community members and partners on Monday, April 21, from 5 to 7 p.m., at 1120 E Main Street in Bismarck. The event will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce and a blessing of the building by Sister Nancy Miller, director of mission integration.

The medical center received a $750,000 grant from HHS, sourced from its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) System of Care Expansion and Sustainability Grant, as part of its aim to broaden access to intensive behavioral health services.

The partial hospitalization program is structured to offer daily treatment sessions, lasting six hours a day for five days a week. It is designed for youth with behavioral health and substance use challenges, and provides a structured environment with integrated educational services, therapy, psychiatric care, and collaboration with community mental health providers.

Lindsae Timm, director of behavioral health services at CHI St. Alexius Health, expressed the organization's commitment to delivering quality care: "We are proud to expand our behavioral health services to better meet the needs of youth in our community. This program represents our commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care that empowers children, adolescents and their families to build resilience and thrive close to home."

For assessments, parents, caregivers, and professionals can contact (701) 530-7255 for children under the age of 18.

Behavioral Health at CHI St. Alexius Health is centered on the comprehensive care of individuals by focusing on their physical, mental, and spiritual needs. The facility offers multiple levels of care across various units and services.

HHS received a four-year SAMHSA System of Care Expansion and Sustainability Grant in September 2022, aimed at improving mental health outcomes for children and youth. The grant is focused on enhancing community-based behavioral health services and supports for at-risk children, youth, and their families.