Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

11 hours ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

12 hours ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

15 hours ago

Elon Musk Says Senate Bill Would Destroy Jobs and Harm US

16 hours ago

Israel Strikes Pound Gaza, Killing 60, Ahead of US Talks on Ceasefire

17 hours ago

Trump’s Administration Finds Harvard Violated Students’ Civil Rights, WSJ Reports

17 hours ago

How Did the Supreme Court Rule? Here’s a Look at the Big Cases

3 days ago
Children's Hospital Goes All in With 128-Bed Mental Health Unit
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
September 18, 2019

Share

A new hospital is coming to the Central Valley dedicated to behavioral health services.
Valley Children’s Healthcare announced Wednesday morning a partnership with Universal Health Services creating more beds for behavioral health services for both children and adults. VCH officials say the new facility will increase pediatrician behavioral health access by 49%.


Listen to this article:
 


“That is a profound, profound investment and additional capability to take care of our kids, and keep more kids home in the Valley and have better access to behavioral mental health services right here. Not in the Bay Area, (not in) Southern California,” Valley Children’s President and CEO Todd Suntrapak said.

Addressing a Serious Need

“The standard of care will be raised in helping these kids and families that have behavioral health issues.”Valley Children’s president and CEO Todd Suntrapak
During the announcement at Valley Children’s main hospital attended by hundreds of medical staff and local leaders, Suntrapak and others cited the need for more services.
According to The Treatment Advocacy Center recommendations, the goal is to have one behavioral inpatient bed for every 2,000 people. In California, there is one bed for every 5,834 people, and in the 12-county region VCH serves, it is one bed for every 9,792 people, according to the California Hospital Association and KidsData.org.
The behavioral health hospital will house 128 beds, with 24 dedicated to pediatric psychiatric care. The facility will employ more than 250 doctors, nurses, and other staff.
Additionally, Suntrapak said the two entities will develop a psychiatric residency program that doesn’t now exist in the Valley.
“Having that residency component will speed the treatment and facilitate the patient getting to the inpatient setting that is on this campus. Not two hours away. Not an hour away. But literally three to four minutes away to get the inpatient care they need,” Suntrapak said. “The standard of care will be raised in helping these kids and families that have behavioral health issues.”

2022 Opening Planned

VCH Board of Trustees chairwoman Jeannie Grech said planning for the facility was five years in the making. The 81,000 square-foot building will be located on VCH’s Madera County campus, on vacant land west of the main hospital.
Construction is expected next to start next year, with a 2022 opening. Suntrapak could not provide an exact cost estimate, but said it would be “tens and tens of millions of dollars.” Valley Children’s will provide the land, while UHS will construct the facility.

Mike Zauner, with UHS (left), and Valley Children’s president and CEO Todd Suntrapak sign a ceremonial contract for a new behavioral health hospital. (GV Wire/David Taub)

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

DON'T MISS

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

DON'T MISS

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

DON'T MISS

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

DON'T MISS

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

DON'T MISS

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

DON'T MISS

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

DON'T MISS

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

DON'T MISS

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

UP NEXT

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

UP NEXT

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

UP NEXT

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

UP NEXT

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

UP NEXT

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

UP NEXT

Fresno Fire Destroys Home Under Construction, Displaces Six

UP NEXT

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

9 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

9 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

10 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

10 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

10 hours ago

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

10 hours ago

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

10 hours ago

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

10 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

10 hours ago

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

11 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

The Clovis Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating an at-risk missing adult last seen on Thursday. Pathmani Goonawarde...

8 hours ago

Clovis Police are searching for Pathmani Goonawardena, 82, who went missing nearly three weeks ago and was last seen driving a white Volvo near Copper and Auberry, possibly en route to Coarsegold. (CHP)
8 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

fresno
8 hours ago

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
9 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

9 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

Bryan Koberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, listens during a hearing to overturn his grand jury indictment in Moscow, Idaho, U.S., October 26, 2023. (Reuters File)
9 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

The Blanca Fire, burning 12 acres northwest of Lake Madera Country Estates in Madera County, remains active with 0% containment and no reported injuries or structural damage as the cause is under investigation as of Monday, June 30, 2025. (CalFire)
10 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

Fresno County CHP arrested two on Interstate 5 after finding about one kilogram of suspected cocaine, a loaded ghost gun, and counterfeit money during a vehicle search on Sunday, June 29, 2025. (CHP)
10 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

Gov. Newsom warns Californians to celebrate the Fourth of July safely, emphasizing zero tolerance for illegal fireworks which have surged to over 600,000 pounds seized this year. (Shutterstock)
10 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend