Recognizing behavioral health as one of the most pressing needs in community health, Ascension Wisconsin is taking decisive action to expand access to care. Today, the health system held a ceremony to celebrate its $10 million investment to establish a regional center of excellence for behavioral health at Ascension St. Francis Hospital. The unit is expected to serve more than 1,000 additional patients in its first year, with an opening date of July 1.
“Our vision is to answer the call to bring health, healing and hope to all, with special attention to those most vulnerable,” said Scott Cihak, Chief Operating Officer and interim CEO from Ascension Wisconsin. “By establishing this regional center of excellence, we are optimizing our workforce and ensuring a comprehensive continuum of care that addresses the full array of behavioral health needs in our region.”
This expansion comes at a critical time for Southeast Wisconsin, where the need for inpatient behavioral health services continues to rise. By renovating 12,000 square feet of space at Ascension St. Francis Hospital, Ascension Wisconsin is increasing its inpatient capacity at the site by 36 beds—comprising 10 adolescent and 26 adult beds—bringing the hospital’s total to 61 inpatient behavioral health beds.
Numerous elected officials attended today' s event, and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson addressed the large group of 100+ ceremony attendees, as did County Board Supervisor Caroline Gomez-Tom and State Representative Priscilla Prado. Other elected officials in attendance included State Representative Robyn Vining, State Senator LaTonya Johnson, State Representative Christine Sinicki, District 13 Alderman Scott Spiker, and Representative Karen Kirsch.
This project marks a significant step forward in Ascension Wisconsin’s ongoing commitment to serving the community, and advocating for the long-term sustainability of vital behavioral health services.
“There is perhaps no greater need in healthcare today than that of behavioral health services,” said Ascension Wisconsin Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Kevin Casey. “Ascension Wisconsin is making investments and aligning services in an effort to expand behavioral health care offerings, meet our community’s needs, and ensure continued access to high-quality, compassionate healthcare for years to come.”
The new unit is designed to care for patients with both behavioral health and complex medical needs, including those requiring IV therapy or mobility support, who are often unable to be accommodated in traditional settings.
Key features of the new center include:
- Expanded Capacity: 36 new beds, bringing total site capacity to 61.
- Cutting-Edge Treatments: Access to advanced interventional psychiatry, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Spravato nasal therapy.
- Collaborative Addiction Treatment: Integrated care featuring same-day visits and 24/7 recovery coaches.
- Comprehensive Continuum: A robust range of services from outpatient and partial hospitalization to complete inpatient treatment for adults and adolescents.
Additional Ascension Wisconsin behavioral health efforts and results:
- All Ascension Wisconsin emergency departments (EDs) now offer 24/7 telepsychiatry and around-the-clock peer support for substance use disorders, including alcohol use. These efforts have significantly improved emergency care for patients.
- Ascension Wisconsin has expanded the use of evidence-based screening tools in primary care settings as a critical step toward improving the early detection and management of depression and substance use. In 2024 and 2025, Ascension Wisconsin achieved a 37.63% increase in depression screenings among adults and adolescents, and a 6% increase in screenings for unhealthy alcohol use among adults.
- Since 2018, recovery coaches have been available 24/7 across all Ascension Wisconsin hospitals to meet with patients in the emergency department following a substance use-related visit. These coaches provide real-time support and care navigation, and help build trust during moments of vulnerability.
- Ascension Wisconsin collaborates with three other health systems and Milwaukee County to provide 24/7 crisis care at the Mental Health Emergency Center, Milwaukee County’s dedicated psychiatric emergency department.
For more information about Ascension Wisconsin’s behavioral health services, please visit https://healthcare.ascension.org/specialty-care/behavioral-mental-health. Persons needing immediate assistance can contact the mental health hotline, 24/7: Call or text 988.
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