THOMPSON, N.Y. --  Families in Hudson Valley and across the state have a new, state-of-the-art hospital in Rock Hill, a hamlet located in Sullivan County.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the opening of The Children’s Specialty Hospital at The Center for Discovery – a special facility designed for short-term care for individuals living with developmental and behavioral challenges like autism. 

Theresa Hamlin, president and CEO of The Center for Discovery, said the facility doesn't look or feel like a traditional hospital. Instead, she said staff are incorporating a unique approach to providing care.

“It is very unique," Hamlin said. "Typically, what's available to these children are hospital settings, for some, even psychiatric settings," Hamlin said. "But for us, we treat the whole child. So all of the kids that come into the program will have access to whole foods. We eliminate processed foods, ultra-processed foods and sugars from the diet.”

Right now, The Children’s Specialty Hospital is serving patients ages 5 to 21, and officials announced your insurance provider has nothing to do with meeting the criteria for service.

“You have to have a developmental disability and qualify for OPDWDD services,” Hamlin said.