Agency Spotlight – Washington County
Community Mental Health Services

In the spring of 1999, the existing contract agency for mental health services in Washington County notified the Washington County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery (MHAR) Board that it would no longer assume that function. The MHAR Board director, Ron Rees, and Steve Pierson, then the CEO of Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare (ABH),

the state’s two psychiatric hospitals in Athens and Cambridge, decided that the most efficient way to assure stability in mental health services was to form a state-operated agency in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Mental Health. Thus, in July of 1999, Washington County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) Services opened its doors at 118 Putnam Street in Marietta as the MHAR Board’s full service contract agency and the first state-operated community mental health center in Ohio. Unlike most counties in Ohio, Washington County has never benefited from a mental health levy. Though Washington County Community Mental Health Services faces ongoing fiscal challenges, the agency has managed to consistently serve more than twice the number of Washington County citizens served in any year prior to its inception. Part can be attributed to the agency’s relationship with the state, which eliminates the high administrative overhead often required by the private sector. But the primary factor has been the able leadership of Executive Director, Dr. Leah Jaquith, and her staff. WCCMHS has become a true full service mental health center in the community, providing a full array of services to individuals, families, agencies and institutions in the county: Individual and group counseling for adults and children Case management services for adults and children Psychiatric services for adults, including assessment and medication management Psychological testing Nursing services, including monitoring vital signs and blood levels, medication education, and helping individuals access medication assistance programs through pharmaceutical companies ACCESS services – individuals with urgent mental health needs are seen by staff within 48 hours to gather information and make appropriate referrals for services that match client needs, eliminating the need for a long waiting list Head Start services provided through an Early Childhood Intervention grant , providing mental health education, observation and consultation services and referrals for Head Start children and their families School programs Prevention services, including anger management, diversity and mediation skills training at Fairview School, Washington County Career Center and Marietta Middle School Group therapy for behaviorally handicapped students Pregnancy prevention program in Washington County schools Outreach services after disasters such as the September 2004 flood Domestic violence prevention groups to court-ordered individuals Court and jail services – staff are available to meet with any inmate who has requested or been referred for mental health services; staff serve as a liaison between agency clients and the court system Evaluations provided to Washington County Jobs & Family Services for individuals applying for disability benefits and/or a medical card Washington County Community Mental Health Services is evolving to meet community needs. Its physical space is expanding to include adjacent space at 122 Putnam Street for children’s mental health services. Staff are working hard to make this a child-friendly area. The agency is also actively recruiting for a board-certified child psychiatrist to better serve children in the county. And by the end of July, they hope to better accommodate client transportation needs by replacing the agency van that was ruined in the September 2004 flood.