A Unified Approach to Behavioral Health: The ‘No Wrong Door’ Strategy

Children’s Nebraska Sets to Transform Behavioral Health Care with Innovative Facility

Omaha-based Children’s Nebraska is on the verge of launching a groundbreaking behavioral health facility aimed at streamlining access and improving care for children and families. The facility is designed under the transformative “no wrong door approach,” which emphasizes that regardless of the entry point into the system, every individual will receive appropriate care for their behavioral health needs.

Renee Rafferty, the Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health & Wellness at Children’s Nebraska, encapsulated this philosophy by stating, “Instead of turning people away, it ensures that whatever door you enter, you receive care for your behavioral health needs.” This approach is characterized as a comprehensive system that promises to minimize barriers and improve overall health outcomes for children and their families.

Historically, behavioral health services have operated within a fragmented infrastructure, often leaving many families overwhelmed and unsure of where to seek help. The new model introduced by Children’s Nebraska aims to alleviate this confusion by providing a clear path to care, regardless of the specific challenges being faced, such as substance misuse or mental health crises.

Families are encouraged to utilize the new urgent care component of the facility, which allows parents to bring their children for assessments when concerns arise. “It’s similar to how parents handle a cold: They watch it for a few days, then take their child to urgent care if symptoms worsen,” Rafferty explained. This model is intended to facilitate earlier intervention, potentially preventing crises before they escalate.

The forthcoming Behavioral Health & Wellness Center is projected to open in early 2026 and will feature a 40-bed capacity. Expectations indicate that the center will accommodate over 5,000 visits through its crisis assessment center and facilitate more than 8,000 patient days annually, serving around 24 patients daily. To adequately respond to this demand, Children’s Nebraska plans to recruit upwards of 100 new staff members.

Spanning 100,000 square feet, the facility will offer a holistic and trauma-informed approach to care, ensuring that both inpatient and outpatient mental health services are co-located and integrated with medical care. The initiative is supported by generous funding, including 0 million raised by the Mental Health Innovation Foundation, further underscoring the community’s commitment to advancing mental health care.

As Children’s Nebraska prepares to unveil this much-anticipated facility, it represents a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to create a more cohesive and supportive behavioral health care environment for children and their families. With a clear focus on accessibility and comprehensive care, the center is poised to meet the evolving needs of the community and reshape the landscape of behavioral health services in Nebraska.