MENTAL HEALTH/SUBSTANCE USE COALITION
(MINDS TOGETHER) History In 2014 the presiding Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge assembled professionals from cross-sector agencies to address wellness and social issues affecting the Bedford community. The professional representation of this group heavily represented the core agencies of the Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT). This group, later named themselves the Bedford Community Action Team (BCAT) and now serves as the strategic planning committee for the Bedford County Community Policy and Management Team. The BCAT completed a needs and gap analysis to help identify needed committees. Two areas of focus targeted mental health and substance use. Just a year or so earlier, a parallel process was occurring within the Bedford Area Resource Council (BARC) who had also formed a committee focusing Mental Health as an identified public health issue in Centra Health’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment. Around 2015, both committees merged to avoid duplication of efforts and decided to adopt the name “Minds Together” to demonstrate the merging of the two groups into one. This merger developed a coalition that is now known as Minds Together, and it serves as a sub-group of the BARC and it is Bedford’s Mental Health and Substance Use Coalition. Mission Minds Together is a collaborative approach and community response to meet the mental health and substance abuse needs identified in our community through implementing creative strategies and services. Vision To independently meet the behavioral health needs of our Bedford Community. |
Contact
Jennifer Smith Ramey, PH.D, LPC Director of Grants and Programs, Horizon Behavioral Health (434) 948-4902 [email protected] Meeting Minutes and Attachments
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