Michigan is set to host the first dedicated pediatric behavioral health center in the state, thanks to a significant financial boost from the David and Carol Van Andel Family Foundation. WWMT reported that the foundation has gifted $8 million to the Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health located in Grand Rapids, with Pine Rest President and CEO Dr. Mark Eastburg highlighting the acute need for specialized mental health care for children, saying, "Too many kids deal with the pain and hopelessness of mental health issues with little or no access to the care they desperately need."
The construction of the $98 million facility has become one of Pine Rest's ambitious projects, it initiated in May and it's set to include an urgent care facility for psychiatric needs alongside specialized outpatient services for conditions including eating disorders, substance use disorder, and autism spectrum disorder, this according to a WOODTV article. Pine Rest projects that these programs will cater to some 10,000 children annually while expanding inpatient care to accommodate an additional 800 children each year.
Moreover, the institution aims to extend its reach through telehealth services, which are expected to benefit children in rural areas across the state, with offerings including immediate psychiatric assessments for 7,500 children per annum. In recognition of the Van Andel family's generosity, Pine Rest has announced intentions to name the southern part of the hospital’s main campus on 68th Street in their honor—a gesture that serves as a testament to their significant contribution.
Addressing the critical shortage of mental health resources for youth, particularly in the post-COVID era, Christian Van Andel hopes that this donation will encourage more open discussions surrounding mental health; he shared with WOODTV, "A lot of people are scared to have that conversation. And to be able to bring a pediatric center here for kids in West Michigan was a no-brainer for us to partner with them." Coupled with the largest gift in its 114-year history, Pine Rest's dedication to addressing unmet needs in pediatric mental health care continues to grow exponentially, the center is scheduled to open its doors in the spring of 2026, a goal that stands firm even against the headwinds of workforce recruitment challenges in the behavioral health sector.
