Across the United States, a significant wave of behavioral health facility expansion is underway. Governments, healthcare providers, and nonprofit organizations are collaborating to increase capacity, modernize infrastructure, and improve access to mental health, addiction, and developmental disorder services. This broad effort reflects an urgent response to growing demand for quality behavioral health care.
From Oklahoma City’s $147 million psychiatric hospital project to new youth treatment centers in Oregon and a cutting-edge autism facility in Missouri, these projects showcase how behavioral health facility expansion is reshaping the landscape. This blog explores the scope, funding, partnerships, and community impact of key initiatives across four states.
Donahue Behavioral Health Campus: A Landmark Behavioral Health Facility Expansion in Oklahoma City
At the forefront of this movement is the Donahue Behavioral Health Campus in Oklahoma City. Construction begins March 28, 2025, marking a pivotal step in behavioral health facility expansion for the state. With a $147 million investment, the hospital will add 330 beds to the city—275 for adults and 55 for pediatric patients—replacing the aging Griffin Memorial Hospital.
This project adds 100 net new beds to Oklahoma’s psychiatric hospital system, addressing a critical shortage of inpatient behavioral health resources. Situated on the Oklahoma State University campus, this behavioral health expansion is strengthened by a unique partnership between the state and OSU, combining academic resources with public health funding.
Funded in part by $87 million from the American Rescue Plan Act and proceeds from the sale of Griffin Memorial Hospital, the campus is set to open in 2026. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), which oversees this behavioral health facility expansion, is also advancing related initiatives, such as the recent opening of an urgent recovery center in Elk City.
Texas Advances Behavioral Health Facility Expansion with New Center in Conroe
Texas is actively pursuing behavioral health facility expansion in the Houston area through a $50 million project to build a new behavioral health center in Conroe, north of Houston. The facility will replace the Montgomery County Mental Health Treatment Facility, updating and expanding the current 100-bed capacity.
County leaders have a June 2025 deadline to complete this behavioral health expansion. Operations will be outsourced, reflecting a broader trend toward partnering with specialized providers to improve care quality and efficiency.
This project exemplifies Texas’s commitment to expanding behavioral health infrastructure in fast-growing regions where demand continues to rise.
Acadia Healthcare and Ascension Seton’s Joint Venture: Expanding Behavioral Health Facility Capacity in Austin
In Austin, Texas, behavioral health facility expansion is progressing through a joint venture between Acadia Healthcare and Ascension Seton. This partnership will add 106 beds to Ascension Seton’s Cross Creek Hospital, increasing its capacity to 196 beds by late 2024.
This collaborative behavioral health expansion leverages Acadia’s operational expertise alongside Ascension Seton’s existing inpatient behavioral health workforce. The joint venture is part of Acadia Healthcare’s ambitious growth plan to double revenue by 2028, with a key focus on expanding bed availability and specialized services.
Behavioral Health Facility Expansion in Portland Area: New Adult and Pediatric Treatment Centers
The Portland, Oregon area is also benefiting from behavioral health facility expansion with two key projects increasing adult and pediatric bed capacity. Central City Concern is developing a 70-bed mental health and addiction treatment facility, supported by $17.5 million in government funding and a Medicaid managed care bridge loan.
Meanwhile, Parrott Creek Child & Family Services is constructing a 40-bed youth residential treatment center in Oregon City. Opening in phases through 2024 and 2025, this project significantly bolsters pediatric behavioral health capacity in the region, highlighting the importance of dedicated youth services in any behavioral health expansion strategy.
Autism Treatment Capacity Grows with New Facility in Springfield, Missouri
In Springfield, Missouri, the nonprofit Arc of the Ozarks has opened a new Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center, another important example of behavioral health expansion. This $10 million facility offers diagnostic and treatment services, including applied behavioral analysis (ABA), occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
Backed partly by a $5 million state grant, this center increases autism evaluation capacity from 150 to 500 patients annually. It serves as a hub for Arc of the Ozarks’ network, enhancing coordination and access to critical behavioral health services for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Conclusion: The Importance of Behavioral Health Expansion Nationwide
The projects described illustrate the critical role of behavioral health facility expansion in addressing America’s mental health care challenges. Increasing inpatient and outpatient capacity, modernizing aging infrastructure, and fostering partnerships between governments, universities, and nonprofits are vital to meeting the needs of millions.
As states like Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, and Missouri push forward with their behavioral health infrastructure projects, communities will gain access to better, more timely, and more specialized care. These investments in behavioral health expansion bring hope to patients and families, offering a brighter future for behavioral health treatment across the country.
