Intermediate Unit 1 (IU1) is pleased to announce the opening of a new outpatient mental health clinic opening September 6, 2016, which will service children, young adults, and families within Greene County, Pennsylvania. IU1 as an educational agency by nature, focuses on the students and youth in the counties we serve to provided essential services in under served areas.
The IU1 Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, located at 300 North Street, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, was established to meet the demands of Greene County’s under served population, providing an alternative for families who are seeking treatment for mental health.
“Greene county Human Services is very happy to support the opening of this specialized mental health outpatient clinic which will make mental health therapy and child and adolescent psychiatry available to our Greene County residents. The therapists and Psychiatrist will be working within the Greene County Mental Health continuum of care to help assure all levels of outpatient care and referral to out of county inpatient settings are accessible to all,” says Karen Bennett, Human Services Administrator of Greene County.
The clinic is for children and young adults ages 3 and greater and is available at no cost to those who reside in Greene County. Patients will have access to children and youth specialized therapists, individual counseling, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and family therapy within a secure and welcoming environment. In addition to the many amenities the IU1 clinic offers, patients will receive treatment from a certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Geith Shahoud, of Western Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Resources.
Dr. Shahoud has treated a wide variety of patients with psychiatric disorders in southwestern Pennsylvania. He specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry, which is rare in our area, as he recognized early in his career the growing need for mental health services for children.
“We strive to provide those within our three counties with the best programs and services available. Over the last few years we recognized the need for mental health services within Greene County and developed a plan to address their specific needs and concerns. Working closely with county administrators, certified youth and adolescent psychiatrists, and the community, IU1 made plans to establish the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic,” said Charles F. Mahoney, IU1 Executive Director.
IU1 plans to provide service for over 100 children and young adults within its first year of operation. In the years to come IU1 hopes to expand their outreach into the school districts and other counties.
“Our main goal is to provide greater access to mental health treatment in Greene County and surrounding areas,” says Joe Mahoney, IU1 Supervisor of Mental Health.
Community members and local school districts are welcome to attend the IU1 Outpatient Mental Health Clinic open house on September 15, 2016 from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm to learn more about current services and take a tour the facilities.
If you or someone you know and love is in need of mental health counseling and medication management, please contact the IU1 Outpatient Mental Health Clinic at 724-938-7043 extension 686. Appointments are now available and referrals can be seen immediately.