Sr. Helen held a planning meeting with Richard Simon, CEO Community Care of WV and Patricia Collett, PA-C Director of Medical Services and School Based Health at Community Care at their central office in Buckhannon, WV to discuss mental health services (especially addiction treatment) in the 45 School-Based Clinics Community Care oversees.
: Mr. Simon is involved in talks with the WestCare Foundation, a family of tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that provides a wide spectrum of health and human services in both residential and outpatient environments. Services include substance abuse and addiction treatment, homeless and runaway shelters, domestic violence treatment and prevention, and mental health programs. These services are available to adults, children, adolescents, and families. Mr. Simon states he does not need funding from the SSJHWF but values Foundation staff’s opinions about SB mental health since the Foundation has been funding these types of services since 2001. As always, SSJHWF staff members are willing to provide consultation and guidance regarding mental health issues in SB Centers and will continue to do so when asked. However, the Foundation always stands ready to fund and/or partner with other entities to establish MH services in SB Clinics.