Lurie Children’s Hospital added four beds and 20 new staffers to the hospital’s renovated inpatient psychiatric unit as a part of a statewide effort to address a major shortage of mental health care for Illinois kids in crisis.

The beds are specifically tailored toward kids with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities and significant behavioral health needs, said Heidi Mueller, the director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

“Those young people need environments created with intention, dignity and safety,” Mueller said during a Thursday morning event at Lurie unveiling the new beds. “We have seen over the past several years an explosion in the number of youth entering DCFS care with complex autism, with developmental needs.”

DCFS fully funded the con

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