News & Notes

Each year, we invite clients to tell us about their experience at the Bert Nash Center, such as what is working well, what could be better, and how we can continue improving care. This feedback is one of the most important ways we listen, learn, and grow. In 2026, 382 clients completed the survey, a 31.27% increase over 2025. We also saw meaningful improvement in our Net Promoter Score (NPS), which rose from 29 to 40, along with gains in “very good” ratings across six of the

Exciting progress continues on the Judge Jean Shepherd Youth Recovery Center, bringing our community closer to a dedicated place for children and teens experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

A Bert Nash Center client reflects on the help they received during an incredibly challenging period of their life. With the help of their case manager, Don, they were able to heal and are pursuing a graduate degree in social work.

Jennifer reflects on her own experience receiving services from Bert Nash as a child—and how that experience shaped her decision to turn to Bert Nash when her daughter needed mental health support. Knowing firsthand the compassionate care they provide, Jennifer knew it was the right place for her family.

Dana Osborn, managing partner of The Basil Leaf Café, shares her personal mental health journey, including what led her to seek support at Bert Nash Center and how that experience continues to shape the way she gives back to her community. From asking for help to finding ways to help others, Dana’s story is a powerful reminder that reaching out for support can be an important step toward healing.

Bert Nash Center (BNC) has earned CARF International’s highest level of accreditation for the second consecutive survey cycle. Following a rigorous three-day review of more than 1,600 standards, BNC received full, three-year accreditation on July 22, 2026. The achievement recognizes BNC’s commitment to high-quality, person-centered behavioral health care, continuous improvement, and positive outcomes for individuals, families, and the wider region.

A new partnership between Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and DCCCA will expand access to Mental Health First Aid training across Douglas County. Since 2008, the program has equipped thousands of residents with the skills to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges. Together, the organizations will increase training opportunities, strengthen outreach, and help more community members gain the tools to support others when it matters most.

Right now, parents in Northeast Kansas are facing moments no family should ever have to face. When their child is in the middle of a mental health crisis, help is often far from home. With no local facility for emergency psychiatric care, families drive long, anxious miles - only to hear there are no available beds. Days or weeks can pass while a child suffers without urgent care. For some, that delay ends in tragedy.

Clockwise from top left: Ivery Goldstein, General Counsel; Marsha Page-White, Chief Operating Officer; Dani Edwards, Chief Financial Officer; Amy Finkeldei, Sr. Director of Quality Assurance; Tamara Heishman, Clinical Director. The Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center is pleased to announce several leadership updates that strengthen the Bert Nash Center’s ability to serve the community, including the addition of its first in-house General Counsel, the promotion of a new C

There’s a moment many parents recognize - the shift from “we should probably look into this” to “we need help now.” For one local family, that moment came quickly. Their daughter had always been a bit anxious, but last winter something changed. What once felt manageable became urgent.

Bella arrived carrying little more than a backpack. Mental illness ran deep in her biological family, and by the time she came to Jane’s home, her life had already been chaotic, and full of trauma. When she was removed from her mother’s custody, there wasn’t even an immediate place for her to go. She spent two nights sleeping in a child welfare office before Jane could take her in.

In 2025, the Bert Nash Center faced a year of significant challenges as the need for mental health services continued to grow across Douglas County. Even during a time of financial and organizational change, the focus remained the same: making sure individuals and families could continue to access the care and support they needed. With the support of donors, volunteers, community partners, and staff, Bert Nash continued serving nearly 2,500 individuals each month while improv