A Pillar of Hope: Prestera Health Services'

Their mission extends beyond mental health and addiction recovery, encompassing a wide range of services tailored to meet the unique requirements of their clients.

For over five decades, Prestera Health Services has been a pillar of support for West Virginia's diverse communities. Established in 1967, Prestera Health Services has continually expanded its services and outreach to provide comprehensive care for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and needs. Their mission extends beyond mental health and addiction recovery, encompassing a wide range of services tailored to meet the unique requirements of their clients.

A Beacon of Support: The Prestera Foundation
At the heart of Prestera Health Services' dedication to community well-being is the Prestera Foundation. This essential organization funds the center's various programs and initiatives. Through several annual fundraisers, the foundation ensures that Prestera Health Services can continue its mission of providing accessible and inclusive care.

Caring for Eight Counties and Beyond
Prestera Health Services' reach extends to an eight-county catchment area, including Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Clay, Mason, Putnam, and Wayne counties. While their commitment to these counties is unwavering, Prestera Health Services' impact is felt throughout thee state of West Virginia. Their non-profit status reflects their dedication to providing care for all, regardless of an individual's ability to pay.

Comprehensive Services for All Ages
Prestera Health Services prides itself on offering services that span a wide spectrum of needs and ages. From infants to the elderly, their services are designed to provide care and support for all. Here's an overview of the services Prestera Health Services provides:

  1. Immediate Access to Care: Prestera Health Services provides prompt screening and intake services for individuals seeking assistance, eliminating the need for appointments. The assessment process discerns each individual's specific needs and preferences, facilitating the customization of treatment plans and follow-up care. Transportation services are additionally available to alleviate potential barriers hindering access to care.
        
  2. Child & Family Services: Prestera's Child and Family Services deliver comprehensive assistance to children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, or substance abuse challenges. Their dedicated team collaborates closely with the individuals and their families to formulate personalized treatment plans, tailoring the level of care to address specific needs. Their array of services encompasses office-based, school-based, and in-home interventions. Through a thorough process involving assessment, psychiatric evaluation, medication management,  individual therapy, group therapy, and case management, they ensure that the services provided align with each family's unique requirements and preferences.
        
  3. Crisis Services: The crisis teams collaborate with adults and families of children/youth undergoing emotional or behavioral crises, delivering prompt access to adept crisis workers for timely intervention and assistance with stabilization, referrals, and access to immediate care. Notably, there is a 16-bed crisis unit available, complemented by mobile crisis services to ensure comprehensive and responsive crisis intervention support.
        
  4. Health & Wellness: Prestera's Wellness program offers a range of activities focused on promoting well-being, including exercise programs, smoking cessation initiatives, and nutritional guidance. These activities are designed to cater to individuals within both office and community settings, contributing to the overall health and wellness of participants.
        
  5. Homeless Services: Prestera's homeless services programs implement street outreach initiatives to engage unhoused individuals. Guided by the Housing First approach,     which recognizes housing as a foundational need devoid of additional conditions or requirements, these programs support individuals in navigating the HUD housing application process. This includes facilitating the gathering of essential documents required for housing applications and addressing any additional barriers impeding the attainment of permanent housing.
        
  6. ID/DD Services (Intellectually & Developmentally Disabled): Prestera’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) program offers a comprehensive range of services aimed at instructing, training, supporting, and assisting individuals in attaining their maximum level of independence. This is accomplished through a multidisciplinary approach, including case management, direct care, nursing, positive behavior support, and extended therapy.
        
  7. Outpatient: In outpatient treatment, individuals develop coping skills and manage behavioral health symptoms through various therapeutic modalities, including individual, group, and family therapy. Support services such as case management, psychiatric and medication management, supported employment, wraparound services, and Intensive Outpatient Programs are also provided.
        
  8. Prevention: Prestera assumes a central role in coordinating prevention initiatives spanning a 10-county region, encompassing suicide prevention, Substance Use Disorder (SUD)     prevention, and parenting groups. Within each county, a specialized prevention coalition is established to provide resources dedicated to educating schools, churches, and other organizations. These coalitions prioritize the implementation of evidence-based curricula, with a primary focus on reinforcing protective factors and addressing or eliminating risk factors.
        
  9. Primary Care: Prestera's integrated primary care model merges medical and behavioral health services, providing a comprehensive approach to address the diverse needs of individuals. Recognizing that the majority of individuals seeking behavioral health care also require primary care services, this integrated approach enables their team to deliver accessible, clinically effective, and cost-efficient treatment tailored to the holistic well-being of the individual.
        
  10. Residential: Group homes and Assisted Living Facilities are designed to support individuals who may benefit from additional assistance in developing independent living skills, facilitating a transition to a less restrictive setting. These residences provide a range of supports and environmental adaptations to ensure the general well-being and care of the residents. The services offered aim to promote independence, reduce stigma, and enhance the overall quality of life for individuals residing in these settings.
        
  11. Substance Use: Prestera offers a comprehensive continuum of care designed to support individuals grappling with substance use disorders, including those with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. An individualized assessment process is undertaken to ascertain the optimal level of care, considering both the individual's preferences and specific needs. The available levels of care encompass withdrawal management, short-term residential, long-term residential, medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric services, outpatient programs, individual and group therapy, as well as case management and recovery coaching.
With a comprehensive range of services and an unwavering commitment to community care, Prestera Health Services continues to make a positive impact on the lives of West Virginians.
More information can be found at www.prestera.org