St. Louis Children’s Hospital, consistently ranked among the nation’s top pediatric hospitals, has a long history of providing the highest-quality care for children. KVC Health Systems brings more than 50 years of leadership in children’s mental health and family services. After a comprehensive national search for a joint venture partner, St. Louis Children’s selected KVC for its deep expertise, proven outcomes and compassionate, trauma-informed care model.
By forming a new nonprofit with shared governance, the organizations established a mission-driven model that expands community access to pediatric mental health care in a sustainable, long-term way. Together, these organizations are building a comprehensive continuum of care designed specifically for children and teens—ensuring families can access the right level of support close to home.
St. Louis Children’s
St. Louis Children’s is one of the premier children’s hospitals in the U.S., providing a full range of pediatric services, including a 14-bed pediatric behavioral health unit. It is part of BJC Health System, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the U.S. and the largest in Missouri. St. Louis Children’s is staffed by pediatric physicians from WashU Medicine, a global leader in academic medicine. Learn more at stlouischildrens.org.
KVC Health Systems
KVC Health Systems is a family of nonprofits dedicated to strengthening families, preventing child abuse and neglect and helping children achieve mental wellness. With more than 65 locations across five states, KVC has one of the nation’s broadest continuums of care: in-home family support, foster care, adoption, K-12 therapeutic schools, mental healthcare, children’s mental health hospitals and more. KVC is recognized nationally for its people-centered workplace culture, mission-driven care, innovative public-private and joint venture partnerships and quality outcomes. Learn more at kvc.org.
Providers
Camber Mental Health
Camber Mental Health, a nonprofit subsidiary of KVC Health Systems, is the hospital’s pediatric behavioral health operator. Through five hospital locations across Missouri and Kansas, Camber serves more than 5,300 youth each year, providing specialized inpatient and residential treatment for children and teens facing serious emotional, mental and behavioral challenges.
At the 77-bed pediatric mental health hospital in Webster Groves, Camber will deliver evidence-based care for youth experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, the impacts of trauma and other mental health conditions in a safe, structured and compassionate environment. The Camber treatment team actively partners with parents and caregivers because healing is stronger when children feel surrounded by connection and support. Camber hospitals are accredited by The Joint Commission and are the first mental health centers in the nation to earn the WELL Health-Safety Rating, reflecting a deep commitment to safety and high-quality care. Learn more at cambermentalhealth.org.
KVC Missouri
KVC Missouri is one of the state’s leading children’s mental health and family services providers with 25 locations and nearly 1,000 team members statewide. Its services include community-based family support, foster care, K-12 therapeutic education, autism services, therapeutic wilderness programs and children’s residential treatment.
KVC Missouri will be the operator of outpatient mental health services for the joint venture. In addition, KVC Missouri’s Children’s Mental Wellness Campus in Webster Groves is the home of the new St. Louis Children’s & KVC Health Systems Youth Mental Health Care. This campus brings together inpatient, outpatient, residential, educational and community-based services in one setting — creating one of the nation’s first purpose-built, fully-integrated children’s mental health campuses offering a seamless continuum of care. Learn more at kvcmo.org.
WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with more than 3,000 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 83% since 2016. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently among the top five in the country, with more than 2,000 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations.
WashU Medicine physicians exclusively staff Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals — the academic hospitals of BJC HealthCare — and Siteman Cancer Center, a partnership between BJC HealthCare and WashU Medicine and the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Missouri. WashU Medicine physicians also treat patients at BJC’s community hospitals in our region. With a storied history in MD/PhD training, WashU Medicine recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy and audiology and communications sciences. Learn more at medicine.washu.edu.