Charlotte contributes $2.5 million towards pediatric mental health facility

On Monday night, Charlotte City Council approved a $2.5 million allocation to support the Katie Blessing Center, a planned behavioral health center for children in east Charlotte. The facility, which will be located at 5516 Central Avenue, is being developed by StarMed Healthcare and will be the largest and most advanced pediatric health care facility in the state. The services offered at the center will focus on the whole child and include behavioral health urgent care, acute inpatient hospital care, residential treatment, and traditional outpatient care.

The Katie Blessing Center is estimated to cost $63 million, with $20 million already committed by the Katie Blessing Foundation, the nonprofit division of StarMed. Councilwoman Marjorie Molina, who represents east Charlotte, expressed excitement about the partnership with StarMed and highlighted the organization’s commitment to the region. The funding from the city will come from fiscal year 2025, and Mecklenburg County has also pledged support for the project.

The Katie Blessing Foundation aims to eliminate barriers to health care access and ensure equitable access to communities with persistent health disparities. The foundation is named after Kathleen Estramonte, a retired elementary and special education teacher. Mayor Vi Lyles emphasized the importance of addressing mental health issues and providing more accessible resources for those in need.