Canopy Children’s Solutions, Mississippi’s largest nonprofit provider of behavioral health, educational, and family support solutions, has broken ground on an expansion of its CARES Center.
The CARES Center, located on West Street in Jackson, is the state’s only nonprofit psychiatric residential treatment facility, serving children and youth ages 6 to 17 with severe emotional and behavioral health challenges.
In 2024, Canopy joined forces with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services and the Mississippi Department of Mental Health to address a gradually growing need for an additional level of care for children with severe mental health challenges. According to Canopy leadership, this form of care previously did not exist in the Magnolia State.
“The ground we are breaking today is sacred ground. Not only will this be a space that will re-imagine care for children with complex trauma, but it will also be a place where hope overcomes and generations are transformed,” Canopy Children’s Solutions CEO Dr. John D. Damon said.
“This innovative solution marks the latest chapter in our 113-year history of providing an innovative solution to a vexing challenge facing Mississippi’s children and families. What is particularly special about this chapter is that we are establishing a model of public-private partnership to accomplish something for Mississippi’s children that we could never accomplish alone. It’s a great day for children.”
Courtesy of a $20 million allocation from the state legislature, along with $5 million of congressionally directed funding, this project will add 20 new psychiatric residential treatment beds, specifically designed to serve adolescents who are considered “hard-to-place” due to complex trauma histories and high-acuity behavioral needs.
“The CARES Center continues to grow as a place of hope and healing for Mississippi’s children and supporting families, thanks to the incredible dedication of the Canopy team,” Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said. “The legislature’s investment reflects the state’s commitment to putting children first and making sure every young Mississippian has a clear path to healing and long-term success.”
This expansion includes the construction of five new residential cottages and the renovation of existing facilities. Once complete, the CARES Center will grow from 60 to 80 total beds, becoming Mississippi’s premier trauma-focused facility for youth who are not appropriate for acute hospitalization, but whose needs far exceed current residential options.
Officials report that youth, often in the custody of the state, often face placement challenges. To address these gaps in placement, the latest CARES Center project aims to provide specialized care in a safe, stable, and therapeutic environment. This new level of “sub-acute” care is believed to fill a critical gap in the mental health continuum, complementing existing services and allowing for a smoother transition from high-acute hospitalization to community-based support.
“This groundbreaking represents a vital investment—not just in mental health care, but in our children, our families, and the future of Mississippi. We know there is a critical window in every child’s life when intervention can change the course of their story. Nearly 35,000 children and youth in our state live with severe and persistent mental health needs,” Mississippi Department of Mental Health Executive Director Wendy Bailey said.
“This is for them — for those who have experienced trauma so deep that traditional services have not been enough. Here, they will find compassionate, trauma-informed care in a place where they are seen, supported, and reminded that their past does not define them. This partnership between state government and Canopy Children’s Solutions is not just about treatment — it’s about transformation.”
Canopy officials are optimistic that the CARES Center expansion will be a “bold step forward” in transforming children’s mental health services in Mississippi.
