02/19/2026

State investments continue expanding child-centered care

Madison MacArthur

CLEVELAND — Ohio officials are continuing to invest in the state’s children in northeast Ohio as Cuyahoga County and The Centers received funding toward the campus.

Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth announced an investment in The Centers’ H.O.P.E. Campus, allowing the construction to be completed and expand services for children.

“This investment is a testament to our commitment to protect children and strengthen families,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. “The Centers’ H.O.P.E. Campus® is about transforming how we respond to trauma and how we support healing. With Governor DeWine’s support, we are building a groundbreaking model that places children at the very heart of care and creates brighter, stronger futures for families across our community.”

The project is through a collaboration with the county’s DCFS, Juvenile Court, Family and Children First Council, the Board of Developmental Disabilities, and the Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County.

“This funding allows us to move forward with a bold, integrated vision for child and family wellness,” said Eric Morse, president and CEO of The Centers. “The Centers’ H.O.P.E. Campus® provides a safe and supportive space where children can access behavioral health services, and families can connect to the resources they need in one place. This initiative ensures children and youth remain close to home, access comprehensive care, and work toward reuniting with their families. We are proud to stand alongside Cuyahoga County and the State of Ohio in advancing a model rooted in collaboration, dignity and healing.”

When construction is finished, the campus will have a newly renovated welcome center, school, kitchen, cafeteria, administrative offices, elevator, improved parking and private bedrooms with reinforced safety measures. 

“This funding is a lifeline for the children in our care,” said Jacqueline Fletcher, director of the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). “When a child enters our care, they are often in crisis, and they deserve more than safety; they deserve healing and hope. The Centers’ H.O.P.E. Campus® allows us to bring together critical services under one roof and deliver trauma-informed care that meets their needs immediately. We are building a future where every child feels protected, supported, and valued.”

The Child Wellness Welcome Center is a family-centered entry point for children going through a placement crisis, which is co-operated by The Centers and DCFS. It will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week for kids referred through DCFS, hospitals or law enforcement, and will arrive at the Welcome Center.

“This project is the result of bold local leadership and a shared belief that our children deserve better than being placed in hotels, offices, or other settings during moments of crisis,” said Dawnya Underwood, executive director of The Centers’ H.O.P.E. Campus. “We are proud that the model developed here in Cuyahoga County helped inform the state’s broader Child Wellness Campus initiative. It’s an honor to see Ohio scale this approach so more communities can provide the right care at the right time.” 

Renovations throughout the campus are currently underway, and the Welcome Center is expected to be finished at the end of November this year.

“With this partnership and investment, we are creating a sustainable model that other communities can replicate,” Ronayne said. “Together, we are setting a new standard for how Ohio cares for its children.”