Clara's House in St. Cloud celebrates expansion

St. Cloud Hospital Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health will have an open house from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, to celebrate the Clara’s House expansion. There will be a 5:30 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a short program in the gym. Guests will be able to tour the building and visit with staff.

Clara’s House, located at 1564 County Road 134, is devoted to providing individualized and specialized treatment to youth ages 5 to 18 in an atmosphere that is warm, nurturing and supportive of their efforts to regain and maintain health. Each year, more than 300 youth find hope and healing at Clara’s House.

"The stigma that has followed mental illness and addiction must be erased forever. Our goal at Clara's House is to open its’ doors wide to let the light shine in and help dim the shadows of the past for each child who enters here. With the new expansion the waiting list will be shortened and more children can be helped sooner," said Mae Ellingson-Skalicky.

The expansion added 9,000 square feet to the existing 14,000 to accommodate more youth in the child, middle school, and adolescent programs to help meet the increased demand for behavioral health and chemical dependency services. The addition also provides dedicated space for the therapeutic creative arts program. Art therapy at Clara’s House helps youth express their feelings after experiencing a trauma such as neglect, abuse, loss of a loved one or other devastating events.

For more information about the open house, call (320) 229-4950.

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