TOLEDO, Ohio – On Thursday, Unison Health celebrated the opening of its newly renovated Child Wellness Campus on Cherry Street, providing a much‑needed home‑like setting for young people with severe behavioral health and developmental challenges.
Facility designed for comfort and care
The 12‑bed campus, slated to open its doors in January, was built to feel like a home rather than an institution. “Our space is designed to be warming and welcoming, a home‑like setting. It doesn’t feel like an institution. We want them to feel safe when they’re with us,” said Amy Kobold, chief operating officer of Unison Health.
Short‑term, trauma‑informed residential care
Partnering with Lucas County Children Services, the campus will provide short‑term, trauma‑informed residential care for children and young adults ages 6 to 21. Stays are limited to 30 days or less, giving staff time to stabilize youth, build life skills, and work toward reunification with families or placement in a foster home.
Kobold explained that the campus fills a critical gap in regional services. “We have youth that are waiting for a family member that’s going to come from out of state to take them home, but that’s going to take a week. We can be that short‑term stay in between levels of care when there’s not another appropriate place for them to go,” she said.
Support for rural partners
Unison Health is also coordinating with partners across 24 surrounding counties. “We are located in Lucas County, but we’ve been working very closely with some of our rural partners so that they know this is available,” Kobold added. A new process allows partners to call ahead and confirm bed availability, ensuring resources are used efficiently and youth are not turned away.
Peer support and therapeutic space
The campus includes a calming corner where children can express emotions safely. Peer support specialist Tyra George emphasized the importance of allowing youth to release tension. “If you just need time to breathe, scream, throw something, kick, yell, we can do that together. I want them to know you’re not going through this alone,” she said.
Unison Health’s approach aligns with broader efforts to expand community‑based mental health services in Ohio, offering families a local option that reduces the need for distant emergency‑room placements.
Looking ahead
As the campus prepares for its January launch, Unison Health hopes the facility will become a model for trauma‑informed care that other regions can emulate. By providing a safe, nurturing environment close to home, the Child Wellness Campus aims to give vulnerable youth a better chance at recovery and a smoother transition back to family life.
Original reporting: 13abc WTVG Toledo (news) — read the source article.
