Van Buren Community Mental Health
Van Buren Community Mental Health Authority is funded primarily by the Michigan Department of Community Health. Van Buren Community Mental Health Authority is a United Way member agency; a member of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare; and an affiliate of Venture Behavioral Health. The agency’s programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, an international accrediting organization van buren community mental health
Mission Statement
Van Buren Community Mental health offers trauma informed prevention, assessment, crisis intervention, treatment and support services to help people meet their own chosen life, health, recovery, and work goals.
Philosophy Statement
Van Buren Community Mental Health believes in the value and dignity of the individual and maintains that the mental health of each individual enhances the quality of life of the entire community. As an agent of the state and the local community, Van Buren Community Mental Health has the responsibility of providing services that address the mental health needs of the county. These services are to be provided in a manner, which upholds the value, dignity, and rights of each individual and understands the impact that traumatic events may have on a person’s well being. Services are provided regardless of age, sex, race, creed, marital status, sexual preference, social status, or the ability to pay for services.
Agency Vision Statement
The CMH Services Board will strive to be the mental health agency of choice for all citizens of Van Buren County, characterized by trauma informed, accessible, acceptable, valued and effective services and will take a leadership role in achieving a healthy community, emphasizing wellness and prevention.
Statement of Organizational Values
We, the staff and CMH Service Board, dedicate ourselves to the practice of compassionate, professional, culturally sensitive, and excellent care. We are committed to understanding trauma and engaging in trauma-sensitive practices for our customers and ourselves.
We strive to work together as a team, and to communicate honestly and directly to create a broader, accepting, responsive community based on trust, respect, and equality.
We pledge accountability to one another and to the persons we serve, respecting their diversity, responding to their needs, and advocating for their enrichment. In all we do, we endeavor to consistently create a positive and healing organization.
Prior to the passage of state laws enabling community mental health boards, a group of interested citizens of Van Buren County formed a committee to arrange for local mental health services from Kalamazoo Child Guidance Clinic. This committee raised donations to pay for the services, and space was provided by the Intermediate School District. In 1969, this volunteer group was called upon by the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners to survey mental health needs in the county, set up services, and evaluate results. Eleven months later on February 10, 1970, the Board of Commissioners passed a resolution designating that committee as the Van Buren County Community Mental Health Services Board, under the terms of Public Act 54, of 1963.
Services began with a small staff doing assessment and diagnostic services, mostly with children, and grew steadily over the next decade. Outpatient counseling for children and adults was added, as were aftercare services, such as the day activity program for people being discharged from state psychiatric hospitals. In the 1980s, the movement to community-based alternatives from inpatient psychiatric made dramatic strides in Van Buren County. The continuum of services offered grew to include partial day treatment, residential services, case management and recipient rights services.