The University of Michigan Sparrow Health is teaming up with the nation’s largest private, non-profit mental health services organization.

Under the agreement, Sheppard Pratt will use its expertise and management to oversee the mid-Michigan health system’s current mental health services. UM-Sparrow Health President Margaret Dimond says the arrangement will also make inpatient psychiatric beds available to kids and teens. Currently, there are none in the Lansing area.

“I think this is a unique partnership,” Dimond said. “Usually with other for-profit partnerships, you lose your staff and the third party is the employer. Here, we’ll be able to retain our own staff with Shepard Pratt’s expertise in managing the facility and the programming.”

Dimond says Sheppard Pratt will also oversee a new behavioral health hospital, pending approval by the U of M Board of Regents.