ROCK HILL – Governor Kathy Hochul joined Center for Discovery staff and residents for a ceremonial ribbon cutting of the new Children’s Specialty Hospital in Rock Hill on August 11. 

This innovative facility is dedicated to providing specialized short-term inpatient care to children and adolescents with complex disabilities, such as autism. Developed over the past decade by The Center for Discovery’s (TCFD) multidisciplinary team in close collaboration with the NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), this facility introduces a new care model that focuses on proactive treatments to reduce the need for long-term residential placements.

“Spending time with the children, families and staff at The Center for Discovery’s Children’s Specialty Hospital is an important reminder of just how important investments in our healthcare system are,” Governor Hochul said. 

The Children’s Specialty Hospital project was made possible through a $48 million low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program, that U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer helped secure, as well as a $4 million investment from Empire State Development. The project also received critical support from the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the NYS Department of Health (DOH) and the Dormitory Authority of the State of NY (DASNY). 

The Center for Discovery CEO Dr Terry Hamlin said, “We are deeply honored to welcome Governor Hochul to The Center for Discovery and our new Children’s Specialty Hospital–where hope meets innovation for New York’s most medically complex children. Here, world-class care, pioneering research, and comprehensive family support are transforming lives and setting a new standard for how we serve children with autism and complex conditions.”

The Specialty Hospital is designed for children ages five to 21 who meet OPWDD’s eligibility criteria and require medical care, in addition to supporting their developmental disabilities. The Children’s Specialty Hospital will provide inpatient treatment and conduct comprehensive medical, behavioral and clinical assessments over a maximum of six months. Through a collaborative approach, this program is designed to help children and adolescents thrive at home, in school and remain integrated in the community.

Designed with both medical and therapeutic needs in mind, the new facility where the Children’s Specialty Hospital is located includes classrooms, a health clinic, sensory rooms, a therapeutic gym for physical and occupational therapies, a café and a training kitchen. The 15-acre campus also offers outdoor walking trails, healing gardens, and a Food is Medicine greenhouse, all supporting TCFD’s holistic approach to care.

After completing short-term treatment at the Hospital, patients will return home with a specialized care plan that includes training for families, caregivers and school districts. TCFD’s team of experts will continue to support families as they build on the progress made during their child’s stay.

NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Willow Baer said, “Finding treatment in the appropriate setting can be difficult for children with developmental disabilities who also have complex medical needs. This new option for integrated care is a positive step towards health equity and we thank Governor Hochul for her continued investment in the lives of all New Yorkers.”