You may know a little bit about Four Rivers Behavioral Health, but I expect you’d be surprised to learn about the number of ways the agency helps the people of our community. In an average year, Four Rivers Behavioral Health has nearly 100,000 client interactions that include everything from an outpatient therapy session to a hospital consult or a crisis call.

One of my favorite historical photos is of John F. Kennedy signing the Community Mental Act of 1963. This photo demonstrates a commitment to fund local mental health centers across the country.

This historic action drastically decreased the number of people who were placed in institutions and hospitals and instead developed a community-based treatment model to care for people with mental health concerns and developmental disabilities.

For over 60 years, Four Rivers Behavioral Health has provided that care and upheld the commitment that President Kennedy made to the nation.

As a lifelong member of this community, I am extremely proud of the work we do for the people in this region. While the way we provide care and how it is funded has changed over the years, we will continue our mission even when Medicaid and other funding cuts occur. That mission is supported by nearly 250 dedicated staff members who live here in the communities we serve.

Our Foundation is an opportunity for you to contribute to the work that we do in the community you call home. Your gift will help support the many services we provide when gaps in funding exist. Whether it is a person working through depression, a school in crisis or even a traumatic weather event we are there.

As a Community Mental Health Agency, we are constantly adding new and more intensive levels of care such as our Assertive Community Treatment teams that provide coordinated ongoing care for people with a Serious Mental Illness. We are the region’s 988 Crisis Line partner – answering calls 24 hours a day while also providing a constantly monitored crisis unit for short-term stays while next steps are discussed with the client.

Over the years, our addiction treatment and post treatment services have grown to include Centerpoint, our long-term residential treatment center, Turning Point Recovery Community Center that acts as a bookend to substance use disorders by finding treatment options for people on one side and supporting those same people post treatment, and Lily’s House for pregnant or parenting women in recovery.

In addition to the care we provide, early intervention and prevention is vital. We work to educate youth through various school and community groups, we distribute harm reduction items like Narcan, for use as an emergency intervention for people who have overdosed and we provide education opportunities for everyone from church groups to police departments.

We hope you recognize the invaluable work we do and choose to be our partner in providing Mindful Care as we help people find their best life path.

With my best wishes,