Children’s Hospital New Orleans Celebrates the Grand Opening of Its New Morgan Rae Center for Hope, Expanding the Hospital’s Vital Child Abuse Pediatrics Programs

The Center will help more children receive the care they need when there are concerns of abuse, neglect or child trafficking, with a trauma-informed, multidisciplinary approach.

NEW ORLEANS – On Friday, October 11, friends, supporters, community leaders, and staff gathered to celebrate a new chapter for Children’s Hospital New Orleans’ longstanding child abuse pediatrics programs with the grand opening of the new Morgan Rae Center for Hope. The new, expanded center will house the hospital’s CARE Center and Child Advocacy Center, enabling significantly more children to be served thanks to a transformational $1.5 million gift from philanthropist Jessica Brandt. The center is named in loving memory of Mrs. Brandt’s late great-granddaughter, Morgan Rae.

In 1985 Children’s Hospital New Orleans first established a child abuse program to provide medical care to child victims at no cost to families. The CARE Center and Child Advocacy Center have grown exponentially since that time – housing a variety of services including medical evaluations, forensic interviewing, trauma therapy and case management.

In collaboration with child protection, law enforcement and key community partners, Children’s Hospital has served thousands of Louisiana’s most vulnerable youth since the program’s inception – serving the medical needs of more than 1,400 children just last year, with an additional 400 forensic interviews. The Morgan Rae Center for Hope begins an exciting new chapter, allowing the team to grow and serve even more children in need who have experienced abuse, neglect and human trafficking.

“Changing the health of a generation means addressing our community’s problems together with state and city agencies, and community partners,” said Children’s Hospital President and CEO, Lucio A. Fragoso. “Together, we are here to give children who have experienced unimaginable trauma the care, resources, support and encouragement they need to have a second chance – to be put back on a path where they can go to school, get a job, have a shot at being happy and healthy members of our community. The Morgan Rae Center for Hope will help us do just that, with expansion of these vital services.”

The beautiful, expanded 4,400 square foot facility was designed by architecture firm EskewDumezRipple+ and constructed by Fidelis Construction. The home-like design helps foster the dignity, privacy and comfort that this incredibly vulnerable patient population deserves, along with state-of-the-art technology and design features that allow for best practices in patient care. The center includes a spacious reception area with four sound-proof consultation rooms, three medical exam rooms, one procedure room, a dedicated forensic interview suite with adjacent observation rooms, two medical interview rooms, a multidisciplinary touchdown space for law enforcement partners, and ample office space for the growing team of experts. The property also includes a spacious playground made possible through a generous donation from Panda Cares.

“While the traumatic experiences of the children and families served here are troubling and difficult to understand, I have hope knowing that that the moment they step inside these doors, their paths to healing and justice can begin,” said philanthropist Jessica Brandt. “Morgan Rae’s legacy will help more children and families have a chance at a fresh start, with access to the expertise they need to cope, and to move forward. My family is proud to be a part of this project in her loving memory.”

The $2.2M project was made possible entirely through philanthropic support. Generous donors of the project include Mrs. Jessica Brandt, the Leo Fisher family, Panda Cares, The Perkin Fund, the 2024 Physician Giving Campaign, Mr. Richard C. Colton, Jr., Ava Watson (Miss Teen Louisiana 2024), Mary and Keving Gardner, Aaron Bradley and Kennedy Kraft Architects.

“Our goal at the Morgan Rae Center for Hope is to be a bright spot in an otherwise difficult time,” said Dr. Neha Mehta, Child Abuse Pediatrician and Medical Director of the new Morgan Rae Center for Hope. “Hope needs a pathway. And in order to have hope, children have to be able to see a future where things get better. Children who feel safe and understood can begin to have hope, and that hope then gives us goals to start children on their pathways toward healing and new beginnings. The Morgan Rae Center for Hope is our new beginning where many more children will be able to find their pathways with our team by their side.”

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About Children’s Hospital New Orleans

Children’s Hospital New Orleans is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, delivered just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Children’s offers a comprehensive array of pediatric healthcare services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, the hospital operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and Diamondhead, MS. Children’s offers primary care services at 14 convenient locations and remotely via its Virtual Care for Kids program. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Lakeview Hospital, and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at chnola.org.