SYRACUSE, NY — Upstate University Hospital has opened a new after-hours pediatric behavioral health center aimed at children and young adults who need help when regular outpatient offices are closed. The Kimberly and John Mezzalingua Pediatric Behavioral Health After Hours Center began operating on Wednesday inside the Nappi Wellness Institute.
The program is designed for families facing a mental health crisis outside standard business hours. Hospital leaders say the goal is to provide a calm place where young patients can be seen quickly and receive care that feels welcoming rather than intimidating.
A walk-in option for children ages 5 to 18
The center serves patients from age 5 through 18 and offers walk-in evaluations, medication management and short-term follow-up care. That mix of services is meant to help families get an initial assessment and a plan without waiting for a routine appointment.
Dr. Jessica Costosa-Umina, a pediatric behavioral health specialist at Upstate University Hospital, said the center gives families another option when they need support after normal outpatient hours. She described it as a safe, calm and youth-friendly space where children, teens and their families can receive compassionate and respectful pediatric care.
Why the hospital says the center fills a gap
Upstate leaders say the new program responds to a practical problem for parents and caregivers: behavioral health concerns do not always happen during the day. When a child is in distress in the evening or later at night, families often have few immediate choices beyond emergency care.
By creating a dedicated pediatric space for after-hours visits, the hospital is trying to make that experience less stressful and more specialized. The center is intended to give young patients a place built for their needs rather than a general setting that may not be as suited to behavioral health concerns.
That focus on youth-centered care is part of what makes the new center different. Hospital staff are emphasizing comfort, access and continuity so that children can be connected to the next step in treatment after the initial visit.
Inside the Nappi Wellness Institute
The new center is located in the Nappi Wellness Institute, part of Upstate University Hospital’s broader health campus. Housing the program there gives the hospital a dedicated location for behavioral health visits while keeping the service close to other pediatric resources.
The setting is meant to support the center’s mission of making care feel approachable. Rather than asking families to navigate a separate emergency department experience, the hospital has created a space focused specifically on children and adolescents who need mental health support after hours.
Backed by a $5 million gift
The center received support in part through a $5 million gift from Kimberly and John Mezzalingua to the Upstate Foundation. Their contribution helped make the new after-hours pediatric behavioral health service possible.
Hospital officials linked the naming of the center to that donation, which supports the effort to expand access for young people in need of mental health care. The gift underscores the role private philanthropy can play in helping hospitals launch programs that address community needs.
What families can expect from the new service
For families, the center adds a targeted option for times when a child’s behavioral health needs cannot wait. A walk-in model can reduce delays, while short-term follow-up care can help keep young patients connected to support after the first visit.
Officials say the center is meant to offer compassionate care in a setting designed for children and adolescents. The combination of after-hours access, medication support and follow-up services reflects an effort to make care more available at the moments when families need it most.
