Last reviewed: June 15, 2026. This is a draft news update for human review before publishing.
Short takeaway
Texas Health and Human Services says the new Texas Behavioral Health Center in Dallas will have 292 beds once fully operational, including up to 92 pediatric beds.
Who this may affect
This may matter for families in the Dallas area who have struggled to find inpatient or higher-level behavioral health care for a child or teen. It may also matter for families raising children with autism, developmental disabilities, severe anxiety, depression, crisis needs, or complex behavioral health concerns.
What changed
HHSC and UT Southwestern are hosting a ribbon-cutting for the Texas Behavioral Health Center on June 16, 2026. The release says the Texas Legislature and Governor Abbott approved $384 million for design and construction, and Children’s Health provided $261 million to build the pediatric wing.
What parents can do now
If your child may need behavioral health support, ask your current provider, pediatrician, school team, or local crisis support line what referral options are available right now. A ribbon-cutting does not always mean every service is immediately open, so it is still worth asking when pediatric beds and programs will begin accepting patients.
Why this matters
Families often reach crisis points before they can find the right level of care. More pediatric behavioral health capacity does not solve every access problem, but it may give families and providers another option to watch as services come online.
Source
Read the source update here: Texas Health and Human Services.