On Sept. 7, Bri Harmon-Moore celebrated her one-year work anniversary as program manager of the Treatment and Recovery Center (TRC) of Douglas County.
For her next anniversary, she will have a different title. Harmon-Moore has been named director of the TRC.
“We are thrilled and excited for Bri to assume this new role,” said Bert Nash Community Mental Health CEO Patrick Schmitz. “She has been part of the facility since before it opened its doors and is the perfect person to take on this important position and to lead the TRC going forward.”
The TRC serves individuals who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Harmon-Moore will begin her new duties Sept. 24.
“I was honored to be selected as the director of the TRC,” she said. “The TRC is a facility that works to say yes to clients, to provide comprehensive mental health and substance use care to clients, and to most importantly, wrap services and follow-up around these individuals in innovative ways. To be chosen to lead this amazing project is truly an honor.”
“I have had the pleasure to work alongside Bri these past several months and she is exactly the right person for the director’s role,” said Dr. Cord Huston, the TRC Medical Director. “I couldn’t be happier for her, for the TRC team, and for the community, as we will all benefit from her leadership and expertise.”
The TRC began a phased opening in April and all units opened on May 25. The TRC provides immediate access to care for people in crisis and connects them to community resources that put them on the path to recovery.
“I was initially attracted to working at the TRC after hearing about the project,” Harmon-Moore said. “I have worked for years with people with significant mental health issues as well as cooccurring substance use. These individuals typically have disjointed treatment and fall through the cracks in our systems, as these systems of care historically have not been set up to meet the needs of these individuals.”
The vision for a 24/7 crisis center in Lawrence and the eventual concept and construction of the TRC was a collaborative effort between numerous community partners, including Douglas County which approved the agreement for the Bert Nash Center to operate the facility.
“The staff at the TRC are some of the most amazing people with a variety of backgrounds that all share a similar desire to help people in our community,” Harmon-Moore said. “This work can be extremely challenging, but the staff at the TRC are fierce advocates for clients and we all want to help clients navigate through their crisis and to facilitate next steps for them. The TRC team is like a family, and it has been such a fantastic opportunity to be able to get to know staff individually and work with all the strengths of the staff to build an amazing team. I am fortunate to get the opportunity to work at a place where I look forward to going to work to every day, because of this team.”
The TRC serves children and adults. Located at 1000 W. Second St., the TRC is open 24/7, 365 days a year. No appointment necessary. For more information, visit trcdgks.org.