Minneapolis, Minn. – (Dec. 9, 2025) – Nexus Family Healing is pleased to announce that the new Hennepin County Youth Stabilization Center, located at the Hennepin County Behavioral Health Center in Minneapolis’ Ventura Village neighborhood, is set to open mid-December, when the facility will welcome its first youth to be served.
Hennepin County has developed this innovative facility in partnership with Nexus Family Healing to provide a new option for youth dealing with complex behavioral needs or other situations that might otherwise cause them to be placed in Emergency Rooms or Juvenile Detention. The new Center, when at capacity, will serve up to 13 youth aged 8-17 for short-term stays from 30 to 45 days, with the goal of stabilization prior to returning to their community or moving to appropriate longer-term residential facilities.
Importantly, the Center has been designed with input from local youth and families to reflect the culture and meet the needs of the local community, within the community. There is also a community-led advisory group. Too often, youth in mental health crisis situations are transferred outside of their communities when a residential resource is needed, separating them from family and other support systems.
Nexus Family Healing’s support services will include:
- Crisis assessment, treatment, care coordination, and transition planning
- 24/7 intensive staffing within a locked environment
- Culturally responsive, trauma-informed care
- Partnership with families, case workers, and others
- Onsite education, individual and family therapy, daily programming, recreation
“At Nexus, we are committed to filling gaps in care for children and families and being a part of the individualized solutions that address mental and behavioral health challenges in our communities,” said Dr. Michelle Murray, CEO of Nexus Family Healing. “That’s why this project and this partnership with Hennepin County is so important, and we will continue to collaborate and communicate closely with the County as we serve these new youth and their families.”
While an exciting new solution, Hennepin County and Nexus note that the Center is just one step in addressing a growing need for care solutions in the metropolitan area for youth and their families dealing with serious mental and behavioral health issues.
About Nexus Family Healing
Nexus Family Healing is a national nonprofit mental and behavioral health organization based in Minnesota. For over 50 years, our network of agencies has used innovative, personalized approaches to heal trauma, break cycles of harm, and reshape futures. We provide outpatient/community mental health services, foster care/adoption, and residential treatment to help thousands of children, families, and adults each year struggling with emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues. We’re especially passionate about bringing hope to the most challenging situations. Learn more at NexusFamilyHealing.org.