FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH - Young Northlanders now have a new place to go for mental healthcare and chemical dependency.

The Amberwing broke ground on its facility less than a year ago and now it's opening its doors.

"It's like a miracle come true," Amberwing Clinical Supervisor Rick Gertsema said.

Since 2007 Amberwing has been a dream and a whisper after discovering the shortage of mental healthcare for kids and their families.

"Sometimes the wait list to see a professional to get help were as long as four to six months," Miller-Dwan Foundation President Pat Burns said.

Six-million dollars later, the brand new building is opening up and has the capacity to care for 50 more patients.

"We're really proud of it, we're very proud of our community, our community has created this facility," said Burns.

"The building itself is indescribable," said Gertsema.

The 25,800 square-foot facility off of Rice Lake Road has a lodge-feel to break the stigma of going to a hospital.

"It says we're about wholeness and health," said Burns. "The spirit and the emotion and psychological part of things it's not as clinical."

The new facility offers more programs and classes to help patients and their families manage their emotions.

Alternative therapy that uses music, drama, art, pets, movement and classes like yoga will now be used.

"It's a much more holistic picture and a much more hands on way of teaching kids," said Gertsema.

The partial examination program that offers therapy and school work to young people will be expanded.

"Really raise the bar to a whole different level of care," said Gertsema.

Consultants say it's the first of its kind in the United States and well on its way to becoming a national model.

Community members are invited to an open house at the new building Aug. 23 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Amberwing will officially open for business Sept. 4.