HHSC to Host Groundbreaking for $452 Million Construction Project at North Texas State Hospital – Wichita Falls

Media Advisory
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Cecile Erwin Young
HHS Executive Commissioner
Emily Hummel, 512-424-6951

WICHITA FALLS – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 24, to celebrate the start of construction on the $452 million replacement hospital at the North Texas State Hospital – Wichita Falls campus.

This replacement hospital will include 200 beds: 24 maximum-security, 136 non-maximum-security, 24 adolescent and 16 civil commitment. It will feature state-of-the-art therapeutic spaces in a secure environment with separate areas for adult and adolescent patients.

North Texas State Hospital consists of one campus in Wichita Falls and two in Vernon. The campuses provide inpatient psychiatric services to adults and adolescents, as well as psychiatric services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Established through the 35th Texas Legislature, the psychiatric hospital opened in 1922 to serve patients from 62 counties in Northwest Texas. HHSC owns and operates nine state hospitals and one residential treatment center for youth.

Since 2017, Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Legislature have invested more than $2.5 billion to replace, renovate and build state hospitals across Texas. These projects are part of a comprehensive plan to modernize and increase access to inpatient psychiatric care.

Renderings for the North Texas State Hospital - Wichita Falls project are available here (ZIP).

WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony and remarks by local and state leaders.

SCHEDULED SPEAKERS:

  • Albert Ragland, North Texas State Hospital superintendent
  • Kristy Carr, HHSC associate commissioner of state hospitals
  • Sen. Drew Springer, District 30
  • Rep. James Frank, District 69

WHEN: 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024

WHERE: North Texas State Hospital – Wichita Falls
6515 Kemp Blvd.
Wichita Falls, Texas

Reporters should RSVP: PressOffice@hhs.texas.gov.