PRESS RELEASE

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN — March 31, 2025 — Mount Olivet Rolling Acres (MORA) is proud to announce the expansion of its Youth Crisis Stabilization Homes in response to the growing mental health crisis among children and adolescents in Minnesota. As the state struggles with an overwhelmed system and the increasing number of youth in crisis, MORA is stepping up to provide immediate support, stability, and care for those who need it most.

The state’s mental health system is facing an unprecedented crisis. Emergency Departments (EDs) across Minnesota are overwhelmed with children facing mental health challenges, many of whom are forced to “board” in the ED for weeks or even months due to a lack of available inpatient beds. In fact, over 1,000 youth were boarded in Twin Cities EDs in 2023 alone. With insufficient space and resources, these children are not receiving the specialized care they need to stabilize and begin their recovery process, resulting in further trauma and long-term mental health challenges.

Sue Abderholden, Executive Director of NAMI Minnesota, and a member of the task force on mental health, has stated, “The boarding has gotten much, much worse. The system is failing our children.” In 2022, 161 mental health crisis homes for children closed across the state, leaving hundreds of youth with nowhere to go but emergency departments, where they often languish without proper treatment.

MORA Steps In

Mount Olivet Rolling Acres (MORA) is answering the call for immediate, compassionate care. The nonprofit organization has opened three Youth Crisis Stabilization Homes in Minnesota, providing a much-needed safe haven for children between the ages of 5 and 17 who are facing acute mental health crises. These homes offer 24/7 one-on-one support, stabilization services, and educational programming for youth, while also helping caregivers navigate the complexities of mental health care.

Locations of MORA’s Youth Crisis Stabilization Homes:

• Andover (Opened October 2018)
• Richfield and Bloomington (Opening May 2025)

MORA’s homes are designed to serve as a short-term placement solution for youth in crisis, offering them a secure, therapeutic environment to stabilize and receive the care they need. The program also helps bridge the gap for families who would otherwise be left with few alternatives in the face of a system that has long been underfunded and overburdened.

A Growing Crisis

The number of children with mental health needs is skyrocketing. According to experts from MHealth Fairview, children who are forced to board in emergency rooms often experience worsened mental health conditions during their stay, as they are deprived of normal activities, peer interactions, and access to specialized care.

“MORA’s Youth Crisis Stabilization Homes represent a crucial step in filling this gap,” said Danielle Fox, Executive Director, Mount Olivet Rolling Acres. “We need more beds and more services like this to ensure that children get the right level of care at the right time.”

MORA’s two new homes in Richfield and Bloomington will be opening in May of 2025. These homes will provide additional beds for youth in crisis, allowing for shorter wait times and more immediate access to mental health stabilization. Two additional locations are planned to open in 2026, continuing MORA’s commitment to expanding care for Minnesota’s youth in need.

The Path Forward

MORA is actively raising funds and seeking community partners to help expand the program and create additional homes to meet the rising demand for crisis stabilization services. With the ongoing loss of mental health crisis beds across the state, MORA’s efforts are more critical than ever.

“These youth need a safe, loving environment to begin their recovery,” said Nasteha Mohamed, MSW, LICSW, a Psychiatric Social Worker at Hennepin County Medical Center. MORA’s homes are a crucial resource for families struggling to find timely and appropriate care for their children in crisis. By increasing the availability of residential services, MORA is helping to ease the burden on emergency departments and ensuring that youth can receive the care they deserve in an environment that fosters healing.

How You Can Help

MORA is actively seeking donations and community partners to help open additional crisis stabilization homes. To learn more or make a contribution to support this critical work, please visit www.mora.org/donate.

You Are Invited!

Join us for a celebration and open house for our new Youth Crisis Stabilization Homes in Richfield and Bloomington on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The event is free and will include tours of the homes, music, food, and a ribbon cutting ceremony with Richfield Mayor Mary Supple and Bloomington City officials. The event is free, but please RSVP by April 19, 2025.

For media inquiries, please contact: Heather Guerin
Director of Development
Mount Olivet Rolling Acres
Phone: 651.216.6524
Email: hguerin@mtolivet-mora.org

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