The Montefiore Einstein Center for Children’s Mental Health of the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein (CHAM) has secured approval from various New York (NY) state authorities in the US.

Approval was granted by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC) and the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council (BHSAC).

The project also received a grant of $3.1m from NYSOMH, in addition to a $30m investment from NY Governor Kathy Hochul to increase inpatient psychiatric beds statewide.

The funds administered by NYSOMH will fund designing, acquisition of property and construction expenditures linked to the addition of 21 new inpatient beds.

The new facility, which will be located within the New York City Children's Center (NYCCC), is set to open by the end of the third quarter (Q3) of next year.

The centre will feature 21 additional inpatient beds in the Bronx and is part of a broader effort to enhance psychiatric care.

Once ready, the facility is anticipated to provide intensive treatment for youth with serious behavioural health issues.

Funding for the facility also includes nearly $6m in capital appropriation led by NY Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assembly Member Michael Benedetto, along with $1m in private philanthropy secured by Montefiore.

The new unit will increase inpatient psychiatry services for adolescents and youngsters in the Bronx, create a multidisciplinary staff pipeline, and offer training for medical students and health professionals.

Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine professor and psychiatry and behavioural sciences chair Jonathan Alpert said: “Thanks to support from state leaders, Montefiore has taken a crucial step toward expanding access and care for our young Bronx patients, reaffirming our long-standing commitment to youth mental health.

“Expanding services for Bronx children and adolescents in crisis will strengthen not only their chances of leading healthier and more fulfilling lives but also contribute to the health and vitality of their families and the community as a whole, and we look forward to opening this centre soon.”

The latest development comes after Montefiore recently obtained a $7m grant to enhance adult and child outpatient psychiatric services.