Ohio Launches New Child Wellness Campuses to Help Kids in Crisis Stay Local

Six new and expanded facilities will provide short-term counseling and support for youth taken into custody or at risk, keeping them closer to home.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced $20 million in funding to create six new or expanded child wellness campuses across the state. The campuses will serve youth ages 6-18 (or up to 21 with developmental disabilities) who have been taken into custody by children's services or are at risk, providing short-term therapeutic care and support to help stabilize them and keep them closer to their families and communities.

Why it matters

The new campuses aim to address a critical gap in care for children in crisis, who are often placed far from home due to a lack of appropriate local services. Keeping these youth closer to their families and communities increases the chances of successful reunification and long-term stability.

The details

The campuses will offer a trauma-informed, therapeutic environment where children can stay for up to 45 days, receiving counseling and support to help them deescalate and stabilize. The goal is to then transition them to a foster home, but with the campus located near their family's home so parents and extended family can be involved in their treatment. The campuses will be run by six different organizations across Ohio, including expansions of two existing facilities.

  • The $20 million in funding was included in Ohio's operating budget passed in late June 2026.
  • The new and expanded child wellness campuses are expected to open and begin serving youth in the coming months.

The players

Mike DeWine

The Governor of Ohio who announced the $20 million in funding for the new child wellness campuses.

Kara Wente

The director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, who provided details on the purpose and operations of the new campuses.

Talbert House Inc.

One of the organizations selected to receive funding to open a new child wellness campus in Hamilton County.

Unison Behavioral Health Group

One of the organizations selected to receive funding to open a new child wellness campus in Northwest Ohio.

Safe Opportunity Foster Alliance

One of the organizations selected to receive funding to expand an existing child wellness campus in Southeast Ohio.

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What they’re saying

“These campuses will address a critical gap in care. Too often, children with complex needs are placed far from home simply because the right services aren't available nearby. The new and expanded child wellness campuses will provide a local, community-based option focused on safety, assessment, healing, and stability.”

— Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio (Governor's Office)

“This funding helps communities build or expand short-term, therapeutic spaces that support children close to home, strengthen family connections and ensure the right care at the right time.”

— Kara Wente, Director, Ohio Department of Children and Youth (Governor's Office)

What’s next

The new and expanded child wellness campuses are expected to open and begin serving youth in the coming months, providing a local, community-based option for children in crisis.

The takeaway

By investing in these new child wellness campuses, Ohio is taking an important step to ensure that youth in crisis can receive the support they need while staying close to their families and communities. This approach aims to improve outcomes and increase the chances of successful reunification, rather than placing children far from home due to a lack of local resources.