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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded Counseling Associates, an affiliate of Arisa Health, a $4,000,000 expansion grant to develop a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program over the next two years.
The funds will be used for outreach and new service availability for underserved areas including Faulkner, Conway, Pope, Johnson and Van Buren Counties to specifically bring to these communities integrated behavioral and physical healthcare to treat the whole person. Additionally, the grant will support new evidence-based specialized services such as trauma-informed care and Assertive Community Treatment.
Counseling Associates Vice President of Clinical Services, Lee Koone, LCSW said of the grant, “We are thankful for the opportunity to bring to our communities a comprehensive care system to provide early detection, expanded access to care, coordination of services between providers and improved outcomes through collaborative efforts with our stakeholders. We know that traumatic childhood experiences have a significant lifelong impact on both health and quality of life; individuals with severe mental illness have an increased risk of chronic medical problems and in our communities we have seen an increase in the need for emergency services. This grant will enable us to develop the infrastructure to support these additional levels of care for those we serve”.
Counseling Associates CEO Brian Davis added, “Counseling Associates has served Arkansans with mental health and/or substance use disorders for almost 50 years and we are excited about this new opportunity to build upon that foundation by expanding our continuum of care with evidence-based approaches that nurture health and well-being for all and transform our communities one life at a time”.
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Recently Arisa Health announced several positive changes to its employee compensation and benefits that are designed to help the organization “Recruit, Engage, Retain, and Invest” in its workforce.
At the request of Arisa leadership, the Arisa Board of Directors approved an investment of $4.5 million in funds to effect the following changes:
- The organization’s new entry-level hourly rate will be raised from $11.00 per hour to $14.00 per hour.
- Adoption of a 2-point pay scale (0-6 years and 6+ years of experience in the position) which means fewer years of experience are required in the current position in order to reach the maximum point on the pay scale.
- Bonuses for longevity will be provided this year based on length of service ($1,000 for 10 & 15 years, $2,000 for 20 and 25 years, and $3,000 for 30+ years).
- Additional bonuses will be provided for key positions.
- Several positive changes specific to the Mental Health Provider (MHP) position.
Arisa Health CEO Dr. Laura Tyler said of the initiative, “This past year we have achieved incredible results despite a worldwide pandemic which created a major strain on our associates and the services we provide. Throughout it all, they rallied time and again to continue to model our mission to lead with exceptional care that nurtures health and wellbeing for all, and we believe these efforts will financially benefit more than 95% of our 1,200+ Arisa Associates throughout the 41 counties we serve. We have experienced a significant increase in requests for services and accordingly have many key clinical provider positions we expect to fill by making this investment in employee compensation and benefits.”
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Springdale, Arkansas (March 2, 2021) -- Arisa Health has announced that Counseling Associates, Inc. CEO Brian Davis will assume the responsibilities of CEO at Professional Counseling Associates in addition to remaining as CEO of Counseling Associates. 
Brian Davis is a Licensed Certified Social Worker and has been the Chief Executive Officer at Counseling Associates in Conway since 2017. Previously, he served as CEO at WellStone Behavioral Health in Huntsville, Alabama from 2005-2017 and was employed at Ozark Guidance Center in Springdale from 1985-2005. Brian is the current Board Vice-President for the Mental Health Council of Arkansas and is a past-President of the Alabama Council of Community Mental Health Boards.
Regarding his expanded responsibilities, Brian says, “I am excited to join the team at Professional Counseling Associates and look forward to working with the Board and serving the people of Pulaski, Lonoke, and Prairie counties. Our affiliation with Arisa Health gives us access to resources that will support and enhance the outstanding work of our dedicated and caring staff. We look forward to helping transform our communities one life at a time.”
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded Ozark Guidance, an affiliate of Arisa Health, a $4,000,000 expansion grant to develop a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program over the next two years.
The funds will be used for outreach and new service availability for underserved communities such as the Latinx and Marshallese populations in Northwest Arkansas. Additionally, the grant will support new evidence-based specialized services such as Assertive Community Treatment.
Ozark Guidance Vice President Dr. Jared Sparks said of the grant, “We have data from several recent community needs assessments that underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing health disparities in Northwest Arkansas. Our collective experience with COVID further informs the need for targeted outreach programs that will improve access to care. The CCBHC grant will do just that by creating a new and accessible space for the underserved to receive expert care”.
Arisa Health CEO Dr. Laura Tyler added, “We are grateful for this opportunity to enhance behavioral health services in the area and look forward to working in collaboration with others to bring integrated care to individuals with the ultimate goal of a holistic focus on improved health for all.”
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Springdale-based nonprofit Arisa Health has finalized a deal to purchase the Wilbur D. Mills Treatment Center in Searcy. Arisa Health announced the acquisition Wednesday (Oct. 7). Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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