Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health Center
Core Values
Respect for the Individual- Each person who receives our services will be treated with respect and dignity, and will be a partner in achieving recovery. We commit ourselves to services that:
- Honor the rights, wishes, and needs of each individual;
- Promote each individual’s quality of life;
- Focus on each individual’s strengths in the context of his or her own culture;
- Focus independence and recovery;
- Demonstrate the value of family inclusion and the benefits of strong family support.
Support for Local Care– We believe that people are best served in or near their own homes or the community of their choice. We commit to the availability of a full and flexible array of coordinated services in every community across the state, and to services that are provided in a healthy environment. We believe in services that build upon critical local supports: family, friends, faith communities, healthcare providers, and other community services that offer employment, learning, leisure pursuits, and other human or clinical supports.
Commitment to Quality– We will be an agency worthy of the highest level of public trust. We will provide treatment environments that are safe and therapeutic, and work environments that inspire and promote innovation and creativity. We will hire, train, support and retain staff who are culturally and linguistically competent, who are committed to the recovery philosophy, and who value continuous learning and research. We will provide services efficiently and effectively, and will strive always to provide interventions that are scientifically proven to support recovery.
Dedication to improved public awareness and knowledge-We believe that people with mental illnesses, trauma victims, and others who experience severe emotional distress, are often the object of misunderstanding and stigmatizing attitudes. Therefore, we will build formal partnerships with the state’s educational leadership and institutions, including both K-12 and institutions of higher learning, to enhance curriculum content on mental health. We will work with employers, sister agencies, and public media to combat prejudice born of ignorance about mental illnesses. In addition, we will expect our own staff to be leaders in the anti-stigma campaign.
Name/Position | Area of Responsibility | Contact Information |
Tamara Smith, LISW-CP, MAC Executive Director |
| Work: 803-508-7862 |
Lisa Hall, LPC/A Chief of Staff |
| Work: 803-508-7820 |
Dr. Gretchen Enright Medical Director |
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Deuce Weinspach, CPhT |
| Work: 803-508-7845 |
Marnie Hall, M.B.A Human Resources Manager |
| Work: 803-508-7809 |
Deanna Ennis, MA, LPC Quality Assurance Director |
| Work: 803-508-7837 |
Tamika Ables Executive Assistant |
| Work: 803-508-7886 |
Thomas Adams Administrative Coordinator |
| Work: 803-508-7801 |
Karlin-Rae M. Cummings, LPC/S, LPC, MAC |
| Work: 803-508-7843 |
Chance Nevitt, MS, LPC, LPC/S, LAC |
| Work: 803-508-7863 |
Lacinda McCormack, MA, LPCS, LPC, MAC |
| Work: 803-450-1024 |
Varney Hodge, LMSW |
| Work: 803-624-1087 |
Kerry Breen, LISW-CP Specialty Services |
| Work: 803-508-7810 |
Shannon Lynn Britt, MSW, CICM |
| Work: 803-508-7857 |
Brooke McCarthy, LPC, NCC, MS School Mental Health Chief |
| |
Chelsa Early, LMSW |
| Work: 803-508-0340 |
Dawn Simpson, RN Nurse Manager |
| Work: 803-508-7834 |
Wonda Beasley Office Manager |
| Work: 803-508-7800 |
The ABMHC Board of Directors plays an important role in Center operations. As advisors, their efforts, in concert with the Executive Director Tamara L. Smith, Center staff, and patients, help ABMHC to provide a community-based system of care for people with mental illness. The primary responsibility of the center board is to ensure that quality care and treatment is provided by the center. The ABMHC board ideally consists of fifteen residents of Aiken and Barnwell counties selected by the Aiken and Barnwell County Legislative Delegation to serve as the voice of the community.
Member Name | County Served | Appointed | Expiration Date | Seat Number |
Vacant | Barnwell | 1 | ||
Robin Gable | Barnwell | 9/20 | 9/24 | 2 |
Vacant | Barnwell |
| 3 | |
Dr. Rosa Ishmal (Chair) | Aiken | 1/17 | 1/25 | 4 |
Vacant | Barnwell | 5 | ||
Vacant | Aiken |
| 6 | |
Vacant | Aiken | 7 | ||
Terry Lee | Aiken | 1/21 | 9/27 | 8 |
Vacant | Aiken |
| 9 | |
Barry Head | Aiken | 4/18 | 4/26 | 10 |
Lowell Koppert | Aiken | 2/21 | 1/25 | 11 |
Sidney Dale Reeves (Co-Chair) | Aiken | 2/20 | 9/27 | 12 |
Vacant | Aiken |
| 13 | |
Marion Gary | Aiken | 1/18 | 1/26 | 14 |
Janie Key | Aiken | 1/22 | 1/26 | 15 |
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Vacant | Barnwell |
|
| At-large seat |
Six Pillars of Excellence
ABMHC adopted the Six Pillars of Excellence as identified by the Studer Group- Service, Quality, People, Finance, Growth, and Community- to demonstrate our commitment in making ABMHC the leader in behavioral care in Aiken and Barnwell Counties. The Six Pillars of Excellence are the foundation for our mission and provides the framework to help us align and prioritize operational goals, develop a strategic plan, and communicate our progress and outcomes to our stakeholders.
Quality– ABMHC provides safe, effective and evidenced based behavioral health care that can be defined, measured and published. ABMHC is committed to leading the community in improving health status and access to care. We take pride in what we do.
Service-Our job is to exceed customer (clients, families, stakeholders, employees) expectations at every turn thus establishing ABMHC as the preferred provider of choice in Aiken and Barnwell counties.
People– We recognize that being the behavioral health care provider and employer of choice means recruiting, developing and retaining a competent, culturally diverse, motivated and productive workforce. Every team member is selected for their leadership, professionalism, expertise, compassion and commitment to the values that set ABMHC apart.
Finance– It is our responsibility to provide cost-effective, compassionate care and excellent services to our payers and clients. We will demonstrate fiscal responsibility and accountability to advance our mission and values.
Growth– ABMHC is committed to the continual pursuit of new and better ways of serving our customers. We stay abreast of clinical practices and technological advances. We offer continuing education and training for all our team members. We are also a training resource for individuals pursuing mental health careers.
Community-ABMHC actively partners with local and regional organizations and service agencies to effectively meet the needs of the community and to increase the public’s awareness of mental health issues, mental health treatment and access to treatment.
Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health Center
Main Center
Address: 1135 Gregg Highway, Aiken, SC 29801
Phone: 803.641.7700
Aiken Main Center Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm
After-hours crisis line: 1 (833) 364-2274
FRST responders team: 1 (833) 364-3778.
As a National Health Service Corps Site we promise to:
- Serve all patients
- Offer Discounted Fees for Patients who Qualify
- Not Deny Services based on a person’s:
Race, Color, Sex, Age, National Origin, Disability, Religion, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Inability to Pay
Accept Insurance Including:
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Some private insurance (check with your provider about coverage)
Connect With Us
Helpful Links
Do you have a complaint regarding services being provided to a child by a state agency? Please submit your complaint to the South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy by phone (1-800-206-1957) or via the electronic submission form.
Notices
Language assistance services are available to you free of charge by calling 1-805-360-3326. Please enter Pin #: 81767494 and be prepared to state your language.
Los servicios de asistencia lingüística están disponibles sin cargo llamando al 1-805-360-3326. Por favor, ingrese su número de pin 81767494 y prepárese para decir su idioma.
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