The Campus Project
The Regional Need
Nearly 500,000 people live in the 21 counties of Northern Michigan. Among them, there are no youth psychiatric beds and about 50 adult beds. Even conservative estimates put the need at 120 or more.
Distance is not a small inconvenience here. It decides who gets care and who does not. Families drive three to five hours downstate to reach care, or to visit someone they love.
The Campus Proposal
We are advocating for a regional behavioral health campus that would serve the 21 counties of Northern Michigan. The proposed facility would offer approximately 60 inpatient, residential, and step-down beds for both youth and adults, along with higher-acuity capacity. This model draws on established programs elsewhere in the state and region, including Pine Rest and Rogers Behavioral Health.
Where We Stand
The campus is at the planning and advocacy stage. There is no site, no construction, and no operator. Cost has been estimated at approximately $40 million. Our role is to establish the need with credible regional data, build the coalition that can carry the proposal, and make the case to the state and to funders. That work is underway now.