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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2005NORCEN joins Talbert House’s affiliation to better serve clients
On November 22, the Board of Trustees of NORCEN Behavioral Health Systems, Inc. voted to formally approve an affiliation in which NORCEN will become a subsidiary of Talbert House. NORCEN, with its 60 employees, will join two other prominent organizations in the Talbert House affiliation, including the Center for Children and Families and Core Behavioral Health Centers.
Informal discussion began earlier in 2005 between Talbert House and NORCEN, a mental health and substance abuse treatment agency, to establish a key strategic alliance between the two agencies. The Talbert House Board of Trustees voted its approval at an earlier meeting.
The affiliation is effective immediately. Maury Ripley, who has been with NORCEN for 27 years, will remain its executive director.
“This affiliation is the culmination of an extended process of evaluation and deliberation on the part of NORCEN’s Board and staff about how best to continue to accomplish our mission,” Ripley said. “The current environment within the behavioral healthcare field requires all providers to consider new and different ways of doing business, focusing on reasonably priced, high quality care and a broader range of services with measurable outcomes. Through this affiliation, NORCEN and Talbert House have responded to this new environment and moved toward their stated goals of cost containment and expanding services.”
The subsidiary relationship provides access to shared administrative services that enables the affiliate organizations to better support their missions.
“We are very pleased that NORCEN has joined our affiliation,” said Neil Tilow, president of Talbert House. “With this addition, we will be able to enhance services to clients by providing better access and continuity of care. This also is a great opportunity to improve the clinical and financial efficiency of NORCEN, as well as the rest of the affiliation.”
Other benefits include enhanced clinical protocols and medical leadership, expanded markets, and increased employment and promotional opportunities for employees of the affiliation.The Hamilton County Community Mental Health Board, a major funding source for Talbert House and NORCEN, has indicated its strong support.
“The Mental Health Board continues to encourage mergers and affiliations,” said Mental Health Board CEO Patrick Tribbe. “It is heartening to see Talbert House and NORCEN take this step to improve quality of care for our consumers through consolidation and other cost reduction efforts.”
The mission of NORCEN Behavioral Health Systems, Inc. is to serve the community by helping people realize their fullest potential as individuals, families, groups or organizations. This shall be achieved by the identification, development, promotion and provision of behavioral health services which are effective, outcome-oriented and offered in a clinically, medically, and financially responsible manner.
Since 1965, Talbert House’s mission is to be a progressive, multi-service, community-based nonprofit agency. Talbert House serves a broad population and develops and delivers services in mental health, community corrections, substance abuse and welfare-to-work. These services have two basic purposes: to improve social behavior and enhance personal recovery and growth.
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