Cullman Area Mental Health Authority’s Executive Director Chris Van Dyke will be the chief operating officer of WellStone Behavioral Health.
CULLMAN – Cullman Area Mental Health Authority will merge with Huntsville’s WellStone Behavioral Health, effective Oct. 1, according to a press release issued by the Huntsville-Madison County Mental Health Board. The merger was also announced at this week’s meeting of the Cullman County Commission.
The two groups will come together under the name WellStone Behavioral Health, and Chris Van Dyke, executive director of Cullman Area Mental Health Authority, will serve as the new chief operating officer.
The merger creates the “largest and most comprehensive behavioral healthcare provider in north Alabama,” said the release. A combined 400 employees will serve more than 13,000 clients in the region.
WellStone Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Blair, LMFT shared, “Wellness, self-care and well-being are topics that are continually elevated in today’s culture. Behavioral health encompasses a wide range of issues surrounding behavior, mental illness, chronic health problems and substance abuse. We’re here to lead the conversation about behavioral health in our community.”
Blair continued, “It’s critical to remove the stigma that often surrounds mental health services. One in five people will experience a diagnosable behavioral health condition each year. That’s why our work remains focused on connecting children, adolescents and adults with the services they need to be at their very best. This merger will enhance quality of services and streamline care for our region. We are creating operational efficiencies, cost savings and opportunities to expand the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services in north Alabama.”
Van Dyke added, “Behavioral health needs continue to grow, and state and local funding can’t keep pace. We embrace the opportunity to join forces as WellStone Inc. so that we can expand our reach within the region. Our team in Cullman will continue to provide services as they are available now but with enhanced operational support. It’s about building a stronger organization that meets the needs of our clients exactly when and where they need us the most.”
After the Cullman County Commission ratified the merger Thursday, Van Dyke spoke to The Tribune about what the change will mean for mental healthcare in the Cullman area:
“As far as services, they’re not going to change, locally. We hope to grow services within the next year or so. We’re definitely not cutting anything. We already have plans to expand some of our nursing home services in Madison County, which will help from a revenue perspective. Here locally, we’d love to expand our children’s services even further.”
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