Cape Fear Valley Health Begins Construction on New Adolescent Behavioral Health Center in Harnett County
Friday, February 7, 2025
Cape Fear Valley Health, alongside representatives from Harnett County Government, elected officials, healthcare professionals, and community members, gathered on Friday, January 31, 2025, at the Central Harnett Campus in Brightwater Technology Park to celebrate a significant milestone.
After more than three years of planning, Cape Fear Valley Health broke ground to begin construction on a new inpatient adolescent center at 215 Brightwater Drive in Lillington - a critical advancement in meeting the rising demand for adolescent behavioral health services in Harnett County.
The new, state-of-the-art, one-story facility will span 8,850 square feet and offer 16 inpatient beds, specifically designed to support psychiatric patients aged 12 to 17 and their families. This $8.4 million project received over $8 million in funding from the Dorothea Dix Hospital Property Fund and the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund. The facility is expected to be completed by December 2025.
Cape Fear Valley’s Dorothea Dix Adolescent Care in Fayetteville is currently the only inpatient behavioral health facility for teenagers in the region. The new Center in Harnett County will mirror the same model of care and provide adolescents with the ability to participate in individual, group, and/or family counseling during their short-term stay - usually three to five days - with a focus on evidence-based adaptive skill building as a foundation for successful reintegration into the community.
Children in crisis often experience delays in care due to the limited availability of beds at adolescent psychiatric treatment facilities in North Carolina. This important investment in expanding access to care will help eliminate those delays for families in Harnett County and the surrounding region.
“When your child is in crisis, being able to turn to a local center makes all the difference,” said Michael Nagowski, CEO of Cape Fear Valley Health. “Family is often heavily involved in the care of these patients and local access is key.”
At the groundbreaking, Nagowski credited Harnett County’s representation in Raleigh for their support and former North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley, whose collective efforts were key in bringing the new behavioral health center to Lillington. He celebrated the dedication of Senator Jim Burgin (District 12), a steadfast advocate for behavioral health in North Carolina, who attended and delivered remarks at the event. Nagowski also highlighted the important partnership with the Harnett County Board of Commissioners and their crucial behind-the-scenes work that helped make the project happen.
Michael Tart, President of Cape Fear Valley Healthcare, expressed his admiration for the County's growth and the increasing number of families choosing to make Harnett their home. A Harnett County native, Tart acknowledged that while much has changed over the years, the core values, culture, and community spirit have remained steadfast. “Cape Fear Valley Health is committed to Harnett County’s future,” said Tart. “We are invested in continuing to improve the lives of Harnett County’s residents by providing exceptional health care to everyone.”
Tart concluded that while the newly-opened Medical Office Building and Cancer Center were physical representations of Cape Fear Valley Health's commitment to Harnett County, they also represent the less tangible things - hope, compassion, and care - the health system aims to provide the community.
Critical Investments in Access to Care in Harnett County
In August 2023, Cape Fear Valley Health expanded its presence in Lillington by purchasing 26 additional acres across 11 lots in Brightwater Technology Park from the Harnett Economic Development Corporation (HEDC). The HEDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works closely with Harnett County Economic Development to focus on the County’s unique needs and growth opportunities through product development and business attraction initiatives.
Construction also began on the three-story, 66,000-square-foot Cape Fear Valley Health Pavilion at Central Harnett Hospital, which celebrated its grand opening on October 29, 2024. The new, state-of-the-art facility, anchored by the Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center, features a variety of specialty clinics, including General Surgery, ENT, Heart and Vascular, Neurology, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Rheumatology, Pharmacy, and Podiatry.
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With the opening of the Cancer Center, Harnett County is now proud to offer radiation therapy for the first time, giving patients access to comprehensive cancer care right here in Lillington.
“The Harnett Economic Development Corporation is honored to have played a role in this project by facilitating the sale of land to Cape Fear Valley Health, ensuring this much-needed facility had a home in our county,” said Phyllis Godwin, Former Chair and current Secretary/Treasurer of the HEDC. “This Center will make a lasting impact, providing vital care and support to the young people and families who need it the most.”
In 2017, Harnett County Government - including the County Manager, Economic Development, and Public Utilities departments - along with the Harnett Economic Development Corporation (formerly the Harnett County Properties Corporation), laid the foundation for future growth at Brightwater Technology Park. County staff worked collaboratively to secure funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation by submitting a proposal to support infrastructure improvements for Phase II of the Park.
In 2018, Harnett County was awarded $500,000 from Golden LEAF Foundation’s Community-Based Grants Initiative (CBGI), supplemented by a local match from the County, to construct water, sewer, road, and drainage systems. This critical infrastructure reduced site development costs for private businesses, paving the way for sustainable growth.
“This project represents years of planning, collaboration, and dedication to meeting a critical need in Harnett County,” said Angie Stewart, Harnett County’s Senior Economic Developer. “Cape Fear Valley Health’s continued investment in Brightwater Technology Park is a testament to what is possible when government, healthcare, nonprofit, and economic development partners work together for the greater good of a community.”
The Golden LEAF Foundation supports the healthcare industry by funding projects that directly lead to the creation of new jobs with the expansion of services.
Central Harnett Hospital opened in January 2013, representing the largest capital investment in Harnett County at that time. Twelve years later, through strategic partnerships and a shared commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all, Harnett County continues to celebrate expanded access to care for its residents.
To learn more about economic development in Harnett County visit www.harnettedc.org. For more information, please contact the Marketing Director for Harnett County Economic Development, Elizabeth Edwards, at eedwards@harnett.org.