The behavioral health landscape continues to expand as organizations respond to increasing demand for mental health and addiction treatment services. Recently, several key developments have highlighted growth in residential treatment for teens and new urgent care solutions for behavioral health patients.
Evolve Treatment Centers Expands Residential Options for Teens
Evolve Treatment Centers has opened two new residential treatment centers for teens in the East Bay of California, one located in Walnut Creek and the other in Lafayette. These centers are part of Evolve’s statewide network, which includes 13 locations across California. The organization specializes in treating adolescents aged 12 to 17 and provides comprehensive care across multiple levels.
Evolve offers four primary levels of care: intensive outpatient, residential, day treatment, and detox. Each level is designed to meet the unique needs of teenagers struggling with mental health challenges, substance use disorders, or co-occurring conditions. By expanding into Walnut Creek and Lafayette, Evolve aims to increase access to high-quality residential care for teens and support families navigating complex behavioral health needs.
Residential treatment centers provide structured environments where teens can receive therapy, participate in group activities, and develop coping skills under the supervision of trained professionals. For many adolescents, early intervention and intensive care can significantly improve long-term outcomes, reduce relapse rates, and provide a stable foundation for mental wellness.
SSM Health Opens Behavioral Health Urgent Care in Saint Louis
In addition to Evolve’s residential expansion, SSM Health has opened a new behavioral health urgent care facility in Saint Louis, Missouri. Located adjacent to SSM’s DePaul Hospital behavioral health outpatient clinic, this urgent care center aims to address the growing need for timely, appropriate mental health care.
The facility will serve patients with chronic mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety, as well as individuals struggling with substance use disorders. By providing a dedicated behavioral health urgent care option, SSM Health seeks to reduce reliance on emergency rooms for mental health crises and connect patients with targeted, ongoing care.
SSM Health’s urgent care center will collaborate with local community health organizations to ensure patients receive comprehensive follow-up care. The clinic is designed to accept patients regardless of insurance status, increasing access to behavioral health services for underserved populations. This approach reflects a broader trend in healthcare, emphasizing patient-centered care and specialized treatment settings for mental health and addiction.
Cordant Health Solutions Expands Into Arizona
Another notable development in the behavioral health sector comes from Cordant Health Solutions, which has opened a new addiction treatment pharmacy in Mesa, Arizona. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Cordant provides monitoring, risk assessment, and pharmacy services tailored to behavioral health organizations. The company’s expansion into Arizona strengthens its ability to support clinicians and patients managing opioid use disorder through medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
Cordant’s MAT pharmacy program delivers medications such as buprenorphine directly to clinicians’ offices or patients’ homes. The program currently serves eight states and approximately 5,800 patients, providing critical support for those seeking to manage opioid addiction effectively. Sue Sommer, CEO and president of Cordant, emphasized the importance of delivering medication in a stigma-free manner. “By partnering with in-office opioid addiction treatment facilities, we can deliver medication to patients at the time of their clinic visit, which removes barriers to obtaining the medication and has proven to help patients stay adherent to their treatment and potentially save lives,” Sommer said in a press release.
The expansion into Arizona highlights the growing need for accessible addiction treatment solutions and the role of specialized pharmacies in supporting MAT programs. During the pandemic, barriers to care—including reduced in-person visits and limited transportation options—have made these services even more critical for patients managing substance use disorders.
Addressing Behavioral Health Needs Across Populations
The recent expansions by Evolve Treatment Centers, SSM Health, and Cordant Health Solutions demonstrate a multifaceted approach to addressing behavioral health needs across populations. Adolescents, adults with chronic mental illnesses, and individuals managing substance use disorders all benefit from increased access to specialized care.
Residential treatment centers for teens provide a structured and supportive environment to help adolescents develop coping skills and maintain mental wellness. Behavioral health urgent care centers ensure that patients experiencing mental health crises receive timely and appropriate care outside of emergency rooms. Meanwhile, specialized MAT pharmacies help remove barriers to life-saving medications for individuals with opioid use disorder.
These efforts are particularly significant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has heightened mental health challenges and created additional obstacles to care. Social isolation, school disruptions, and increased stress have exacerbated anxiety, depression, and substance use, making access to treatment more important than ever.
The Importance of Accessibility and Collaboration
A common theme among these developments is the emphasis on accessibility and collaboration. Evolve’s residential centers offer local options for teens and families in California’s East Bay, reducing the need for long-distance travel. SSM Health’s urgent care center partners with community organizations to provide comprehensive follow-up care, while Cordant’s MAT pharmacy program ensures that patients receive medications in a timely and convenient manner.
By focusing on accessibility, these organizations aim to improve patient outcomes, reduce gaps in care, and support long-term recovery. Collaboration with community partners, outpatient providers, and clinicians strengthens the continuum of care, ensuring that patients have the resources and support they need at every stage of treatment.
Looking Ahead: Trends in Behavioral Health Expansion
The recent expansions by Evolve, SSM Health, and Cordant reflect broader trends in behavioral health. There is increasing recognition that specialized care settings—residential treatment centers, urgent care facilities, and MAT pharmacies—are essential components of a comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment system.
As demand for behavioral health services grows, organizations are likely to continue expanding capacity, developing innovative programs, and partnering with community stakeholders. These efforts are critical for meeting the diverse needs of patients and ensuring that mental health and addiction services remain accessible, effective, and patient-centered.
Conclusion
The behavioral health sector is evolving to meet the needs of adolescents, adults, and individuals managing substance use disorders. Evolve Treatment Centers’ new residential facilities for teens, SSM Health’s behavioral health urgent care in Saint Louis, and Cordant Health Solutions’ MAT pharmacy in Arizona represent important steps in expanding access to specialized care.
By increasing capacity, improving accessibility, and fostering collaboration, these organizations are helping ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate mental health and addiction services. As the demand for behavioral health care continues to grow, these expansions highlight the importance of innovative solutions that address the unique needs of different populations.
Whether it is providing teens with structured residential care, adults with urgent mental health support, or patients with life-saving medications for opioid use disorder, the behavioral health sector is adapting to better serve communities across the country. These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes, reducing barriers to care, and supporting recovery at every stage of treatment.
