CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In a groundbreaking milestone for the state of West Virginia, six behavioral health centers have been granted provisional status as Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). This designation marks a significant advancement in the provision of mental health services in the region, as these centers become the first-ever behavioral health facilities to receive such recognition in the state’s history.
The six West Virginia behavioral health centers that have selected for provisional CCBHC status are as follows:
FMRS Health Systems
Prestera Center
Seneca Health Services
Southern Highlands CMHC
Valley HealthCare System
Westbrook Health Services
“We are thrilled as this significant milestone marks another stride toward achieving excellence in behavioral health treatment within the state,” Mark Drennan, CEO of the West Virginia Behavioral Healthcare Providers Association (WVBHPA), said.
“Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the Legislature for the unanimous passage of SB247, the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) for their tireless dedication, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing for their pioneering work in establishing CCBHCs nationally and the members of the WVBHPA for their continued high-quality, compassionate and evidence-based care,” Drennan said.
Key features of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics include:
Comprehensive Care: CCBHCs offer a wide range of mental health and substance use services, addressing the diverse needs of individuals in the community.
Accessibility: The designation aims to improve access to behavioral health services, reducing barriers and promoting early intervention.
Integration: CCBHCs integrate mental health and substance use services with primary care, fostering a holistic approach to healthcare.
Quality Improvement: The centers are committed to continuous quality improvement, utilizing data-driven approaches to enhance the effectiveness of their services.
Community Engagement: CCBHCs actively engage with the community to better understand and address the unique challenges and needs of the populations they serve.
While the provisional status designation is an exciting first landmark, Randy Venable, CEO of FMRS Health Systems, is prepared for the work that lies ahead.
“FMRS is thrilled to receive our CCBHC provisional status application, while the CCBHC model has the potential to address many of the challenges historically faced in the provision of quality behavioral health services,” Venable said. “This is another step in the direction of transformational change in the scope and quality of behavioral health services available to the citizens of West Virginia and we are eager to continue the work towards full CCBHC certification.”
The six behavioral centers selected for the provisional status deliver services across most of the Mountain State, and Lisa Jones, CEO of Southern Highlands, looks forward to growing her organization’s reach.
“Southern Highlands looks forward to the expansion of our services, especially in McDowell and Wyoming Counties,” Jones said. “This is an amazing achievement, and we are thankful for this opportunity from the WV Bureau of Behavioral Health.”
