A monumental moment for the Child Saving Institute as a $46 million project reaches the halfway mark. The multimillion-dollar expansion to the Child Saving Institute is 13 months away from completion, but it comes at a time when mental health is top of mind for many American families. The Child Saving Institute said that in the past year, they have served more community members than in any year for the past three decades, and one of the largest demands has been mental health services. “During construction, we’re even seeing more than we ever have in our history,” Lora Sladovnik, director of pediatric and adolescent therapy at the Child Saving Institute, said. “There’s an increased need. We get referrals from the school system. We’re getting referrals from other community resources.”The number of mental health sessions completed at the Child Saving Institute in August 2024 was 645. The agency said it’s the highest number of sessions in one month in their history.”We’re seeing younger kids with more complex needs and families and caregivers really stressed out about how they can support those kids,” Jaymes Sime, president and CEO of the Child Saving Institute, said. On average, CSI said they serve roughly 400 children and families annually with their mental health services. “We’re seeing it for littles,” Sladovnik said. “We’re seeing it, elementary age and then definitely that high school age. But we’ve really seen an increase across what we call the lifespan.”Knowing the demand is only growing, CSI said their expansion project is more important than ever. “We’re basically doubling the size of our building to allow us to serve more children and families through three core programs: our outpatient mental health service, our early childhood education program, and then our youth shelter and community supported programs,” Sime said.Celebrating the halfway point of the Campaign for Hope project on Thursday, the agency said this allow them to serve more community members. “Across the organization, it’ll put us probably 3,000 to 3,500 on an annual basis,” Sime said. The expansion will also improve the quality of service and experience for staff and clients. “If you saw our space right now, we have turned closets into offices, all kinds of facilities like that,” Sladovnik said. “And so, just being able to know that we’re going to have state of the art, you know, offices for, you know, for our clinicians, you know, a nice waiting room for our clients, have it be therapeutic, and, that, I think is going to be one of the biggest pieces that we’re missing right now.”An expansion, they said, wouldn’t be possible without the help of donors and the community, but one that is needed.”There is no right time, but now is the time because we know that the need is going to continue to grow,” Cindy Heider, capitol campaign co-chair at CSI, said.If you have questions or are interested in mental health services for yourself or your child, you can fill out the mental health inquiry form by clicking here, or you can call Child Saving Institute at 402-553-6000, and they can help you determine which route may be best. The agency said they’re roughly $1.2 million away from the $46 million mark for the project. If you would like to learn more about the Campaign for Hope or get involved, click here. Child Saving Institute said the goal is for construction to be complete by late November 2025.
A monumental moment for the Child Saving Institute as a $46 million project reaches the halfway mark.
The multimillion-dollar expansion to the Child Saving Institute is 13 months away from completion, but it comes at a time when mental health is top of mind for many American families.
The Child Saving Institute said that in the past year, they have served more community members than in any year for the past three decades, and one of the largest demands has been mental health services.
“During construction, we’re even seeing more than we ever have in our history,” Lora Sladovnik, director of pediatric and adolescent therapy at the Child Saving Institute, said. “There’s an increased need. We get referrals from the school system. We’re getting referrals from other community resources.”
The number of mental health sessions completed at the Child Saving Institute in August 2024 was 645. The agency said it’s the highest number of sessions in one month in their history.
“We’re seeing younger kids with more complex needs and families and caregivers really stressed out about how they can support those kids,” Jaymes Sime, president and CEO of the Child Saving Institute, said.
On average, CSI said they serve roughly 400 children and families annually with their mental health services.
“We’re seeing it for littles,” Sladovnik said. “We’re seeing it, elementary age and then definitely that high school age. But we’ve really seen an increase across what we call the lifespan.”
Knowing the demand is only growing, CSI said their expansion project is more important than ever.
“We’re basically doubling the size of our building to allow us to serve more children and families through three core programs: our outpatient mental health service, our early childhood education program, and then our youth shelter and community supported programs,” Sime said.
Celebrating the halfway point of the Campaign for Hope project on Thursday, the agency said this allow them to serve more community members.
“Across the organization, it’ll put us probably 3,000 to 3,500 on an annual basis,” Sime said.
The expansion will also improve the quality of service and experience for staff and clients.
“If you saw our space right now, we have turned closets into offices, all kinds of facilities like that,” Sladovnik said. “And so, just being able to know that we’re going to have state of the art, you know, offices for, you know, for our clinicians, you know, a nice waiting room for our clients, have it be therapeutic, and, that, I think is going to be one of the biggest pieces that we’re missing right now.”
An expansion, they said, wouldn’t be possible without the help of donors and the community, but one that is needed.
“There is no right time, but now is the time because we know that the need is going to continue to grow,” Cindy Heider, capitol campaign co-chair at CSI, said.
If you have questions or are interested in mental health services for yourself or your child, you can fill out the mental health inquiry form by clicking here, or you can call Child Saving Institute at 402-553-6000, and they can help you determine which route may be best.
The agency said they’re roughly $1.2 million away from the $46 million mark for the project. If you would like to learn more about the Campaign for Hope or get involved, click here. Child Saving Institute said the goal is for construction to be complete by late November 2025.
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