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.