A Message from John Masterson
This year marks Behavioral Health Resources' forty-eighth year of service to the Olympia community. BHR was incorporated as the Thurston County Child Guidance Center in 1956 under the leadership of Philip Vandeman M.D. Today, Behavioral Health Resources (BHR) serves Thurston, Mason and Grays Harbor Counties responds to community needs by enhancing people's abilities to lead healthy lives through education, advocacy, and comprehensive mental health and chemical dependency services.

Every day, twenty-four hours a day, each day of the year, BHR staff members are working to help those with mental health and addiction needs. This staff is committed to their work and I am proud to work along side of them.

We honor the staff and volunteers who have given generously of their time and talents these last forty-eight years...and we celebrate the successes of the clients they have served.

-- John Masterson. CEO

About Us
BHR was founded in 1956 as the Thurston Child Guidance Clinic under the leadership of Dr. Phillip Vandeman, the first President. During the ensuing years, much has changed in the community and the field of public mental health. And, some things got even better. We congratulate Dr. Vandeman upon his many honors, including being recognized as the 2004 Philanthropist of the year.

BHR has also changed over the years. In 2002 BHR merged with the Crisis Clinic Resource Network. In 2004 BHR's adult and children clinical services plus the administrative offices relocated from the downtown core of Olympia to 3855 and 3857 Martin Way. The new location is close to the new psychiatric treatment facility, the Center for Acute Psychiatric Services, built by Thurston County and operated by BHR. In this facility, BHR will provide mental health evaluation and treatment (15 beds), crisis stabilization (10 beds) and crisis triage. By 2005, BHR has merged with it’s peer and rival, South Sound Mental Health Services. This merger almost doubled BHR’s size, brought talented staff to BHR and created a rich blend of programs. Several new programs have begun, including Intensive Case Management. Recently BHR's Addiction Recovery Services offices relocated from downtown Olympia to the old South Sound Mental Health Services offices at 6148 Capital Boulevard. BHR also continues to work to add a 34-unit housing project in Tumwater.

The Community Mental Health Foundation of South Puget Sound has worked to raise awareness of the successes experienced by persons suffering with addictions and/or mental illness. The Foundation sponsors Phoenix Awards each June. The Foundation also works to raise funds in support of the programs of BHR, including an very successful and active Capital Campaign to purchase the new Martin Way campus. BHR plans to purchase the Campus by March 31, 2007.

All in all, these activities are intended to strengthen the public mental health services in our community. This is important as the shifting public policy and budget challenges make it increasingly difficult for low-income persons seeking help to find needed services. BHR's staff is committed to helping our clients lead healthy lives within their own community.

Organizational Capacity
Behavioral Health Resources (BHR) operates a range of comprehensive services in programs staffed by 260 FTE to serve approximately 2,200 children, adults and seniors each month in our outpatient programs. (These figures reflect the merger of BHR with South Sound Mental Health Services staff and program activities) With the opening of Acute Psychiatric Services in the new Thurston County Evaluation and Treatment Center, we anticipate serving over 4,000 new clients annually, many of them in an inpatient milieu. Those who are disadvantaged are still the prime recipients of services focused on crisis prevention, early intervention, mental health and addiction recovery.

As the major vendor to Thurston County Regional Support Network for mental health services, BHR served approximately 20,800 children, adults and seniors in 2004. In addition, the Crisis Clinic Resource Network, a program of BHR, responds to 15,000 phone calls and 5,000 Web requests for assistance annually.

BHR is licensed and certified as a mental health service provider with the state of Washington and also by the Department of Social and Health Services to operate inpatient evaluation and treatment. BHR was recently awarded the needed funding to renovate an existing apartment building in Tumwater that will add 34 housing units for the chronically homeless mentally ill population under its license with Washington State Department of Health Department.

Some Recent Accomplishments

· BHR's CEO co-chaired ConneXions in 2003 - 2004, a five-county collaboration of health care and human services dedicated to creating a streamlined, one-stop shopping system for low-income residents needing one or more services. The Director of the Crisis Clinic Resource Network continues work to bring the WIN 2-1-1 statewide project to a reality in Washington State and the five-county region we serve.

· BHR moved its headquarters offices. The building that staff occupied until September 2004 suffers from structural cracks and leaks from the 2001 earthquake as well as a confirmed mold problem. In recent years, these conditions necessitated moving operations from the lower floor and relocating a number of employees offsite, creating additional lease costs and loss of efficiencies. The remaining space did not offer the safety and security important for day-to-day client services and staff productiveness.

· BHR was recently awarded the final grant that will allow us to begin a process to create 34 living units for the chronically homeless, mentally ill in a renovated apartment house in Tumwater.

· BHR took an active leadership role in collaborations to improve access for those most in need of health care and social services. Capitol Clubhouse offers social supports, often for clients who are receiving residential, employment or treatment services from BHR.

· BHR took the lead in establishing Keystone Crisis Nursery in 2002 to assist parents in crisis, receiving mental health or substance abuse treatment, or with emergent issues and to prevent child abuse by offering a safe haven. BHR continues to mentor the Crisis Nursery, now operated by the Family Support Network.

· The National Drug Court Institute evaluated BHR's Family Treatment Court Chemical Dependency Program and rated it a national best practices and training model. Paula Greenthal, Clinical Supervisor was selected as faculty for their national training institute.

· In 2002, the Association for Experiential Education bestowed the Willi Unsoeld Award on Patrick Barmes, coordinator for BHR's Sound Opportunities. This recognized his "significant contribution to experiential education in the Northwest."

· In 2003, BHR took a leadership role as a partner with the United Way of Thurston County, in collaboration with The Evergreen State College and other agencies to produce "Compass 2003" - a community needs study. Affordable health and mental health were identified as the combined #1 priority for the area.

· When the Community Mental Health Foundation claims the $400,000 pledge from CTED for the Capital Campaign it will have met its $1,000,000 goal in fundraising in three years.