About Us
Serving Southern West Virginia since 1968
Our Mission
So much more than Behavioral Health
Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center inspires and nurtures human potential in our community through service, advocacy, and education.
Since 1968, Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center has served as the mental health safety net for rural Southern West Virginia. For 58 years, we've been here when families in Mercer, McDowell, Wyoming, and the surrounding areas needed us most—through economic hardship, the opioid crisis, and generational trauma unique to Appalachia.
As one of West Virginia's Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) we operate under a fundamentally different model than traditional mental health providers. We will not turn anyone away due to inability to pay for traditional behavioral health services. We provide the full continuum of care—crisis stabilization, outpatient services including therapy, psychiatric care, substance use treatment, peer support, and care coordination regardless of insurance status.
What makes us different: We don't just treat symptoms. Our integrated care model connects mental health with primary care, addresses social determinants like housing and transportation, and coordinates with schools, courts, and community partners. When you seek services, you'll see a care team who supports long-term recovery. That continuity—rare in rural healthcare—saves lives.
We accept Medicaid, Medicare, all major insurance, and offer sliding-scale fees. Our 24/7 mobile crisis line isn't outsourced to a national call center—it's staffed by local clinicians who know our community. Locations across our three focus counties mean care is close to home, because we know that in rural West Virginia, a 90-minute drive to the nearest provider isn't just inconvenient—it's often impossible.
Our Commitment
Our Promise
Empowering people to achieve their greatest potential, Southern Highlands promises to:
Promote a culture that values those we serve and our employees
Provide individualized, comprehensive plans of care to those we serve
Support those we serve as they address housing, crisis, and referral needs
Educate the community about issues facing the individuals we serve
Deliver prevention programs that enhance positive decision-making and reduce risk
Inspire confidence and respect as the community's provider of choice for comprehensive behavioral healthcare in our service region
Ensure our services are affordable, accessible, effective, and efficient
Evaluate and plan for the behavioral health needs of our community
Lead alliances that promote health and quality of life for members of our community
Endow our organization with the resources necessary to serve our community into the future
Our Core Beliefs
Guiding Our Actions
In our daily work with those we serve, these beliefs guide our actions
People
We believe that a passion and regard for people, all people, lie at the heart of what we do. We respect the culture and values of the people we serve and work beside. We honor the worth of people and will treat them with courtesy and kindness because they are worthy of both.
Excellence
We believe that our work is important and consequently demands the best service. We seek to follow best practices and be guided by clinical research. We emphasize the continued education and development of our workforce to provide the best care possible.
Accountability
We believe we must be good stewards in the efficient and effective use of all human, fiscal, and material resources. We are committed to the continuous evaluation and improvement of Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center.
Collaboration
We believe that collaboration with other organizations is the best way to accomplish our mission. Through open conversation, we continuously develop alliances and relationships with the people and families we serve, communities, governmental/nongovernmental entities and other service providers to meet the needs of people and their families.
Integrity
We believe that integrity is essential in our line of work. In all that we do, we will seek to be ethical, trustworthy, and transparent. We are responsible for implementing services based on principles in legislation, safeguards, and professional codes of conduct.
Awareness
We believe education and early intervention strategies will minimize the behavioral health needs of our community. We promote community education and awareness to develop an understanding and acceptance of people with behavioral health needs.
Innovation
We believe it is vital to embrace new ideas and change to fulfill our mission moving forward. We seek best practices and innovative ways to provide evidence-based services/supports and strive to find creative solutions to inspire hope and help people obtain their goals.
Our Leadership
Meet Our Team
Dedicated professionals committed to providing exceptional mental health care to our community.
Lisa Jones
Chief Executive Officer
Angela Peterson, MBA
Chief Operations Officer
Melissa Shinault, MBA
Chief Compliance Officer
Rachelle Broyles
Administrative Executive Assistant
Dr. Alina Hamm, MD
Medical Director
Candace Nelson, MBA, LSW, ADC
Chief Clinical Officer of Community Programs
Staccotta Dickerson, MA
Chief Officer of Residential Services
Kenny Birchfield, MEd
Chief Officer of Children's Services
Jessica Steenson, MA, LICSW
Chief Clinical Officer - QA
Tina Hall, SHRM-CP
Division Director of Human Resources
Cynthia Christian, LPN
Clinical Workflow Analyst
Sarah Cecil, MA
Senior Division Director of Finance
Dustin Cline, BS
Chief Information Technology Officer
Quality Assurance
CCBHC Certification
As a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, we meet rigorous federal and state standards for clinical quality, safety, and coordination of care. This prestigious designation ensures that every individual receives:
Evidence-Based Treatment
Proven therapeutic approaches backed by research
Coordinated Care
Seamless integration across all services and providers
Comprehensive Services
Complete continuum from crisis to long-term support
Quality Monitoring
Continuous evaluation and improvement of outcomes
Our Service Area
We proudly serve residents of Mercer, McDowell, Wyoming, and the surrounding areas.
Join Our Team
We're always looking for dedicated professionals who share our commitment to making a difference in the lives of individuals and families in our community.