Valeo Behavioral Health Care to expand services after receiving grant

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Valeo Behavioral Health Care hopes to build its services even more thanks to a generous grant.

Valeo plans to expand and improve its services now that the center has received a grant worth more than $712,000.

The measure offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will change Valeo into a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, or CCBHC.

Valeo Behavioral Health Care CEO, Bill Persinger, says that Valeo will still be Valeo but with some added improvements.

“We will continue to be a licensed community mental health center in the state of Kansas, doing what we do now only somewhat more under CCBHC, so the buildings will not change,” according to Persinger. “We may add some staff to improve some programs. We are still going to be Valeo, still going to be here to help out, still going to be a community health center serving the city and county and carrying on with our mission for well over 55 years now.”

It will be used towards addiction treatment, improvements for crisis care, mental health recovery, and several administrative improvements.

“I think you are going to see a Valeo Behavioral Health Care that is what it is now only improved. Quicker access, improved crisis care, better follow up, you know, check in on people more often, make sure they are doing okay and do whatever we can to help out,” said Persinger.

CCBHC is known as a comprehensive designated clinic that offers a comprehensive range of services from mental health to substance abuse services. According to Valeo, Kansas became the first state back in April of 2021 to pass legislation establishing the CCBHC as a solution to the mental health and substance abuse crisis.

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