Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System announces the launch of Project Rural Recovery (PRR) in their service area of middle Tennessee. The project will expand access to basic physical health and behavioral health services for individuals and families in the five rural counties of Bledsoe, Sequatchie, Grundy, Warren and Van Buren.
To bring these services to rural community members, the VBH PRR team will acquire and outfit a mobile healthcare unit over the next several months to travel to different dedicated sites each week such as health departments, community centers, and schools. Additional information about final service locations, dates, and scheduling will be announced when the unit and staffing is complete.
Project Rural Recovery will focus on:
· Bringing physical health and behavioral health care and treatment directly to rural locations.
· Removing common barriers to care, including long travel distances and limited local provider options.
· Working with local agencies and health providers to support care coordination
“This is a project that Volunteer Behavioral Health has been working toward for several years,” said Phyllis Persinger, President & CEO. “We hear from community partners in our rural counties that this type of service is going to make a difference, and we see the positive impact from other Project Rural Recovery providers. We’re so excited to be involved and to be part of this effort.”
An official update announcing a ribbon cutting for the mobile unit will be issued in the coming months. This project is funded through the Rural Health Transformation Program under a Grant Contract with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
About Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System
Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System (VBH) is a CARF-accredited nonprofit organization providing a continuum of behavioral health, substance use, and crisis intervention care across 50+ Tennessee counties. A leading provider for over 60 years, VBH operates 19 local outpatient centers, adult Mobile Crisis services across 29 counties, and three 24/7 Walk-In Centers with detox and crisis stabilization units in Cookeville, Chattanooga, and Murfreesboro.
Service Access & Helplines:
First-Time Appointments with Same Day Access: 1-877-567-6051
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-800-704-2651 or 988
Website: www.vbhcs.org