PrairieCare Begins Large Expansion in Brooklyn Park

PrairieCare held a groundbreaking to expand its hospital in northern Brooklyn Park on Tuesday. The health system, which offers psychiatric services for all ages, is adding 30 inpatient beds for youth in Brooklyn Park. 

Local dignitaries and mental health professionals gathered Tuesday to celebrate the expansion along Highway 610 in Brooklyn Park.

PrairieCare says it will be the largest increase of psychiatric beds for youth in Minnesota in decades. The expansion will be 30,000 square feet and will allow the company to care for nearly 3,500 youth each year.

“There are a lot of kids who are finding themselves in the hospital, ER, or in county administrative buildings who need to be in a safe, therapeutic environment and beds haven’t been available,” said Todd Archbold, PrairieCare CEO. “This expansion is going to allow us to not only care for more individuals but get them into the treatment they need sooner and hopefully help the whole family unit heal.”

The Minnesota Legislature passed sweeping legislation in June 2021 that waived the hospital bed moratorium and public interest review process for hospitals to add both mental health and substance abuse disorder beds.

The expected opening of the new PrairieCare expansion is Fall 2023.

See also: Newsmakers: PrairieCare CEO Talks About Pandemic Impact on Children’s Mental Health

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