A vital new medical expansion is gracing Plano. For over a decade, Children’s Health has traditionally housed mental and behavioral services for youth in its Dallas location. As of July 27, several of these services will be available at Children’s Health in Plano through a new dedicated behavioral health suite.
“This is a dream coming to fruition,” explains senior director of behavioral health Elizabeth Widtfelt. “It’s been years in the making, and a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to make this a reality.”
The Plano expansion brings four specialized behavioral health services to families in Collin County and surrounding communities. New offerings include the Teen Recovery Program, a one-of-a-kind service that treats adolescents facing substance use and co-occurring mental health challenges through intensive outpatient therapy, group counseling, psychiatric care, and family support services. The SPARC Program provides evidence-based intensive outpatient treatment for youth struggling with severe depression through skills-based therapy, medication management, and parent education.
The new suite will also offer Outpatient Psychiatry and Psychology Services, providing medication management, therapy, and ongoing behavioral health support for children and adolescents. In addition, Autism Outpatient Care will provide psychological evaluations, autism assessments, and neurodevelopmental support services designed to help families receive earlier diagnoses and intervention opportunities. Previously available only in Dallas, these programs are now accessible in Plano, expanding access to critical behavioral healthcare closer to home for North Texas families.
Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center share a longstanding joint pediatric enterprise that brings together nationally recognized expertise in patient care, research, and medical education. Through this partnership, the organizations collaborate to advance pediatric innovation, train future health care leaders, and improve outcomes for children across North Texas and beyond.
“We’re in a pretty serious behavioral health crisis as a country, and especially in Texas,” details Widtfeldt. “Access to care is significant for the children and adolescents that need these services. We know bringing it to where folks live and making it more accessible geographically makes a big difference.”
Statistics from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) for youth mental health since the rise of the 2020 COVID pandemic indicate an increased need for these services. In 2023, many high school students in the United States reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. And, nearly one in five teens seriously considered attempting suicide that year.
Mental and behavioral health challenges among children and teens continue to mount nationwide, and Widtfelt says families are becoming more receptive to discussing emotional struggles and seeking outside support. Still, modern childhood comes with increasing pressures. From social media, packed schedules, academic stress, and constant digital exposure, many young people are quietly struggling.
“On the outside, they may look like a rock star, but on the inside, they’re crumbling,” Widtfelt explains.
In addition to expanding mental health resources for adolescents, the new Plano suite will also provide specialized autism outpatient services for families seeking evaluations, developmental support, and earlier intervention opportunities. The program is designed to help children receive care while connecting parents with resources to support their child’s development.
“The earlier that you identify something, the earlier you intervene, and the better the prognosis is in the long run for kids,” Widtfelt says. “Early diagnosis really leads to better prognosis and early intervention. All those things are very critical.”
The need for autism services continues to grow nationwide. According to CDC findings, approximately 1 in 31 children in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder, an increase from 1 in 44 children just a few years ago. Researchers say early screenings are helping more children receive diagnoses earlier, allowing families to access critical support services. Studies have shown that early intervention can vastly improve developmental outcomes, making timely evaluations an important first step for many families.
The expansion also complements several existing behavioral health programs already serving families at Children’s Health in Plano, including neuropsychology and eating disorder treatment services. While neuropsychology has previously maintained a presence in Plano, the new behavioral services suite allows for more collaboration between providers to help expand care. Eating disorder services, which already offer inpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient levels of care, will also benefit from the more robust behavioral health footprint. Widtfeldt says the goal is to create a more entwined experience for families navigating complex needs.
“We support the whole family and ensure they have the tools they need to help their child,” she says. “We’re really trying to not only be a much-needed resource but be the best at what we do. We want to make sure we’re providing the best care for the patients who receive services with us.”
Prior to the promising new development, many of these specialty programs were only available through Children’s Health in Dallas, often creating taxing commutes and additional barriers for families across Collin County. By expanding these services in Plano, Children’s Health is increasing access to specialized pediatric behavioral healthcare closer to where families live on the northeast side of the metroplex.
The new behavioral health suite officially launched on July 27 at Children’s Health Specialty Center 1 in Plano. Families interested in learning more or scheduling services can call the Children’s Health intake line at 214.456.8899. Visit www.Childrens.com to learn more.