Chamber Member of the Week: RiverValley Behavioral Health

June 28, 2021 | 12:08 am

Updated June 27, 2021 | 10:48 pm

RiverValley Behavioral Health

RiverValley Behavioral Health operates as the largest provider of behavioral health services in western Kentucky. Formed in April of 1966, the organization exists to provide access to mental health, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and substance abuse services in the community.  

Adopting the name RiverValley Behavioral Health in 1988, the company played an instrumental role in deinstitutionalizing persons with chronic mental illness. They presently offer a wide array of services that span 27 programs. 

“Our mission is to provide services and support of the highest quality, no less than we want for ourselves, our families, and our friends,” said President and CEO Dr. Wanda Figueroa-Peralta. “We operate one of the three existing behavioral health hospitals for children in Kentucky and we are nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.” 

The hospital for children features 80 beds and serves the needs of youth with complex behavioral conditions and is affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic for Autism. 

“The Cleveland Clinic is a national leader in research, education, and healthcare,” Figueroa-Peralta said. “We offer the only Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Inpatient Program in Kentucky — this is a 12-16-week program for children ages 5-17 who have experienced severe trauma. We also offer Animal Assisted Therapy.”

Constantly expanding to serve the community’s evolving needs, RiverValley in March opened the Amethyst Center, a residential substance use disorder treatment program for women. The addition was part of a $250,000 grant awarded by the Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) and the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (KDBHDID).

“We can provide substance use treatment and recovery services for pregnant women and women with infants in a home-like, nurturing environment,” Figueroa-Peralta said. “Since its opening, we are happy to announce that we have had our first drug-free baby at the center.”

A $4 million grant that spans two years from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration afforded the company opportunities to add even more programs. Those new programs include 24/7 Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team, integrated physical healthcare, and Medication Assisted Treatment.

The organization most recently announced a $10 million renovation to the 140,000-square-foot facility at the Cigar Factory Complex and will assume operations of a clinic in Hancock County this August. They also expanded services for children and families through the implementation of respite care, targeted case management, intensive in-home services, and 24/7 mobile crisis services for children. 

They also offer Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, evidence-based training that teaches how to help someone who is developing or experiencing a mental health crisis. This is offered at no cost to schools, universities, faith-based organizations, law enforcement agencies, and businesses. 

“We seek to increase access to services and provide a therapeutic environment to our clients,” Figueroa-Peralta said. “We are committed to continuously plan for ways to expand access to behavioral health services and help create a thriving, healthy community.”

Figueroa-Peralta added that support from the community and local chamber has played a pivotal role in their successes. 

“Owensboro is a caring community and we are proud to serve here … The support from our community partners, law enforcement agencies, schools and universities, faith-based organizations, healthcare, housing advocates, and organizations serving veterans, among others, has helped us to create the capacity and the scope of integrated healthcare services that our community needs and deserves,” she said. “We look forward to this continued collaboration as we move forward and continue to expand our services.”

One in five Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year with less than half receiving treatment according to Figueroa-Peralta, who referred to mental health as serious but not uncommon and said “that there is no health without mental health.”

“If you are struggling with a mental health issue, please know that you are not alone. We are here to support you and your loved ones,” she said. “We offer services for children, adults, and families, and there is no shame in asking for help.”

To access services with RiverValley, call 270-689-6690. If you are in crisis and it is a non-medical emergency, call or text the Crisis Line at 1-800-433-7291 or locate the crisis chat at www.rvbh.com/crisis.


The Chamber Member of the Week program is a membership benefit of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 1913, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce has worked for over a century to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals.

Today, with a membership base of nearly 1,000, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives, serving as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.

To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or to inquire about Chamber membership, contact Shelly Nichols, Chamber Vice President, at 270-926-1860 or [email protected].

June 28, 2021 | 12:08 am

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