Phase 1 is totally funded. Phase 2 will be $14 million, with $4 million left to raise.

The Children’s Campus will be completed in sections: We anticipate taking possession of the main building on October 31, 2026. Over 350 semi-loads of furniture will begin being placed starting in August 2026. Once all furnishings and equipment are moved in the 400 staff who will work in the facility regularly will participate in extensive training to familiarize themselves with the building, workflow patterns, and emergency response procedures. Once all licensing bodies have inspected and completed surveys of procedures the facility will be ready for children to move in.  We anticipate this will be early 2027. Phase 2 will be ready for use in late spring 2027.

The Specialty Hospital can accommodate 18 children, and 69 children will live in our residential area.

Our Specialty School will welcome 69 residential students and another 60+ day students to school. The children in the Specialty Hospital either attend school here in their own classroom in the hospital area of the building or receive tutoring and support for their continued education from home.  Additional children will receive evaluations and intense outpatient therapies.

The length of stay can vary depending on the child and the services received. For example, a child recovering from an illness or accident has an average length of stay of 91 weeks in the Specialty Hospital. Other children may be in residence from a year to age 21 (LifeScape Children’s Services is licensed to serve children from birth to 21).

The current building housing children’s services is 136,000 sq ft. The new Children’s Campus building is 204,000 sq ft. with ability to expand in two directions if/when needed.

Some schools are not able to meet the educational needs of some children, or they are not able to meet the therapy needs of the student. Many rural schools do not have OT, PT, and/or Speech Therapy. If those therapies are in the child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) the state is obliged to follow that IEP and meet the child’s needs.

While designing and planning the leaders met with and toured facilities that serve children with similar needs and/or had recently built a new building. They learned best practices and what “not” to do. They also consulted with area hospitals regarding flooring, walls/wall covering, and furniture. The new children’s campus has numerous safety enhancements, design elements, and furniture and equipment that more safely and appropriately serve the children served by LifeScape.

The Specialty Hospital has bathrooms in each patient room (versus rolling children to the single bath & shower room at the current building), oxygen and suction in the walls, and wall mounted, electric lifts. The single patient rooms have more space and will have space and furnishings so that parents can sleep in the room. It also has its own classroom and areas for patients and families.

Behavioral Services areas have special design and furnishing for the safety of children and staff, as well as longevity of the facility. In the classrooms, hallways, and residential spaces where children receiving behavioral services will be, there are specially reinforced walls, hurricane-rated windows, special doors & door mounts, anti-climb furniture bolted to floor and/or walls, extremely heavy furniture (throw-proof), and swing mounts throughout the school and classrooms (please see the info on importance of swings). Everything must be able to be disinfected to meet department of health and department of education standards.

Courtyards provide outdoor space and activities while being safely surrounded by the building. No fences! Children will have independence and space to play or areas of calm respite.