MARIETTA — Life and Purpose Behavioral Health will become part of Hopewell Health Centers in Washington County effective April 1, officials said.

Hopewell Health Centers is a federally qualified health center, community health center, providing integrated primary care, dental and behavioral health services in nine counties in Southeast Ohio.

Mark Bridenbaugh has been the CEO since the agency formed in 2013 through a merger of Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling Services and Family Healthcare. Both had been in existence since the 1970’s.

In Washington County, the agency operates a behavioral health clinic in Belpre, a youth day treatment program in Barlow, provides school services to several districts and early childhood services to community agencies.

Life and Purpose Behavioral Health was formed in 2005, and was originally called L and P Services after the founding owners, Chester (Chuck) Larrick and Brent Phipps.

Jamie Kerestes became president in 2013 and Doug Pfeifer became CEO in 2017. The agency is one of the largest behavioral health agencies in Washington County, serving about 2,000 clients annually.

All parties are excited by the new venture and believe it will enhance the care provided to the community.

“Over the last few years, we have seen such an increase in behavioral health need as well as a significant increase in behavioral health providers in our county,” Pfiefer said. “Life and Purpose joining Hopewell will strengthen the work that we both do and create new opportunities to better serve Washington County. There will be immediate benefit to both our employees and clients which was most important to us in making this decision.”

Kerestes said he is “a true believer that change is imminent, and growth is optional.”

“With that being said, it is exciting to think about all the possibilities that the joining of Life and Purpose Behavioral Health with Hopewell Health Centers will bring to the community,” Kerestes said. “We will not only expand the services of care we provide, it will enhance the service collaboration and access of valuable professional resources to our client base and community stakeholders.

“It’s exciting that the organizations have a shared vision, mission, and desire to come together and provide better care for our clients and our communities,” he said.

Bridenbaugh agreed and said the goal is to have a seamless transition for all staff and clients served by Life and Purpose Behavioral Health.

As a part of Hopewell, Life and Purpose staff will continue to provide services at all current locations. Services include community psychiatric supportive treatment services, outpatient counseling services, crisis services, school-based services, early childhood intervention and psychiatry.

The previous Life and Purpose sites will be incorporated into Hopewell’s business structure and will use the same electronic medical records so there is one unified clinical record for all clients. Over time, services will be integrated across all sites.

Existing clients will experience no disruption in services in any way. Clients will continue to have the same counselor, case manager, doctor or nurse. Intake and referral procedures will remain the same.

All clinics will accept Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance. A sliding fee based on family income is available.