Date: January 5, 2022
News Release: Burrell Behavioral Health, Comprehensive Mental Health Services complete merger, announce plans to expand services in Eastern Jackson County
Contact: Matt Lemmon, Vice President of Communications, Burrell Behavioral Health, matthew.lemmon@burrellcenter.com
The Boards of Directors for Independence-based Comprehensive Mental Health Services and Springfield, Mo.-based Burrell Behavioral Health have signed formal documents finalizing a merger between the two companies.
Under the agreement, CMHS will continue operate under the Comprehensive Mental Health Services Name and serve its existing eastern Jackson County territory as Burrell’s fourth distinct regional service hub. Other Burrell regions include southwest Missouri (seven counties), central Missouri (ten counties) and northwest Arkansas (eight counties).
Collectively, Burrell and CMHS, both state-designated Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) in Missouri, employ more than 2,000 people, serving clients and patients across the behavioral healthcare continuum including mental health, addictions recovery and prevention, behavioral crisis support, and developmental support services.
The merger will significantly increase resources available to Comprehensive – the state-designated CMHC for eastern Jackson County, with additional substance-use programs in central KC – and the entire metropolitan area. Already Burrell, a state leader in the behavioral crisis stabilization arena, and CMHS are making progress toward the 2022 opening of a walk-in, 24/7 Behavioral Crisis Center in Independence, and have hired four new psychiatrists – three adult, one child/adolescent – in recent months to help meet the medical-level needs of the underserved metropolitan market.
“This is a wonderful moment for behavioral health care in eastern Jackson County and the greater Kansas City area, and just a taste of what is to come,” said Comprehensive Mental Health Services CEO Julie Pratt, who will continue to lead the region as president. “Addressing the mental health and substance use needs of our community is a huge task requiring all of us to work together and to dream big. We are thrilled for the opportunity to meet this challenge in new and exciting ways.”
In addition to this merger, Burrell and Kirksville-based Preferred Family Healthcare in December announced a joint partnership between their two companies. PFH provides substance-use recovery and mental health services as well as developmental disability support and employment programs in the Kansas City area. CMHS, by joining forces with Burrell and PFH, will bring to bear statewide resources and expertise, with the potential of changing the landscape of behavioral health care and access in the area.
“Collectively, we are bringing a new philosophy to Kansas City, one that will focus on over-serving the needs of our communities, increasing access to our services, and recruiting top-of-the-field providers,” said Burrell President & CEO C.J. Davis. “Together we can be the leading behavioral health entity in Kansas City, and a trusted partner for local civic leaders, businesses, law enforcement, and – most importantly – those we are privileged to serve.”
About Comprehensive Mental Health Services:
Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Inc. (CMHS), based in Independence, Mo., is a non-profit community mental health center that has been providing caring services for over 50 years. CMHS is the behavioral health provider for all of Eastern Jackson County and provides residential and outpatient substance use services to the urban core of Kansas City.
CMHS believes that every member of their community deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion. Behavioral health issues and recovery from substance use should not be barriers to living a happy, healthy, fulfilling life. CMHS exists to support the members of our community in reaching their wellness goals.
Learn more about CMHS, where they are located, and the services they provide by visiting www.thecmhs.com.
About Burrell Behavioral Health:
Burrell Behavioral Health, established in 1977, is Missouri’s second-largest CMHC, now serving 26 counties in Missouri and Arkansas and employing more than 2,000 people. Burrell works with more than 40,000 and has more than 400 licensed providers offering a full continuum of care through an integrated network. Services include individual therapy and counseling, addiction recovery, psychiatric and medication management, educational and therapeutic groups, crisis intervention, medication-assisted treatment, adult stabilization, case management, residential treatment, autism, diagnostic testing and evaluations and developmental disability support. Learn more about Burrell’s programs and services at www.burrellcenter.com.
Comprehensive Mental Health Services
17844 E. 23rd St.
Independence, MO 64057
(816) 254-3652
info@thecmhs.com