Comprehensive Profile and Competitive Analysis of Alleghany Highlands Community Services (AHCS)
Overview
The Alleghany Highlands Community Services (AHCS), founded in 1983, is a dedicated provider of mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services within the Alleghany Highlands region, including the County of Alleghany, City of Covington, and the towns of Clifton Forge and Iron Gate in Virginia. Rooted in community-based support, AHCS operates in compliance with Virginia's legislative framework to improve the quality of life for individuals facing behavioral health challenges.
Mission and Vision
AHCS's mission is centered on delivering recovery-oriented, person-centered, and community-based services with a focus on prevention, treatment, and inclusivity. The organization aims to work collaboratively with local stakeholders to address community needs. Its vision includes maintaining a professional, diverse, and culturally competent staff to provide integrated services that promote dignity, choice, hope, and recovery.
Core Values
The guiding principles of AHCS include:
- Integrity
- Respect
- Professionalism
- Accountability
- Compassion
- Innovation
- Teamwork
Leadership and Governance
Leading AHCS is Ingrid Barber, serving as the Executive Director with a strategic oversight focus and over a decade of experience in public service delivery. AHCS is governed by a nine-member volunteer board appointed from Alleghany County, Clifton Forge, and the City of Covington.
Services Offered
AHCS provides an extensive array of services categorized into three primary areas:
Mental Health Services
- Emergency services
- Outpatient individual and group counseling
- Psychiatric services
- Medication management
- Family counseling
- Transitional housing
- Case management and community support
Developmental Services
- Early intervention/infant & toddler program
- Support coordination
- In-home residential support and respite services
- ICF/IID services at Merryfield Residence
Substance Use and Prevention Services
- Outpatient and medical detoxification
- Residential treatment
- Prevention services
- Family counseling and adolescent services
Key Operational Details
With a workforce exceeding 127 employees, AHCS operates several service sites. The agency is publicly funded and holds accountability to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) for quality and fiscal responsibility.
Contact Information
- Address: 205 E. Hawthorne St., Covington, VA 24426
- Phone: 540-965-2135
- Fax: 540-965-6371
- Website: [ahcsb.org](https://ahcsb.org/)
Emergency Contact
- Regular Hours: 540-965-6537
- After Hours (5PM onwards): 1-800-446-0128
Recent Highlights
AHCS has been recognized as the non-profit of the year by The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, which underscores its substantial contributions to the community.
Competitor Analysis
Primary Competitors
1. Clay County Behavioral Health (Orange Park, Florida): Offers mental health and substance use disorder services, including outpatient counseling and day treatment. Noteworthy for its Integrated Mobile Response Team for crisis intervention.
2. Helen Farabee Centers (Wichita Falls, Texas): Provides comprehensive behavioral health and developmental disabilities services across 20+ program sites, known for its large operational scale.
3. NorthKey Community Care (Covington, Kentucky): A veteran provider of mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services, recognized for its community-centric approach and integrated pharmacy partnerships.
4. Florida Parishes Human Services Authority (Northshore region, Louisiana): Offers recovery-focused mental health and developmental disabilities services with broad community outreach.
5. Coastal Plains Integrated Health (Texas): Delivers community-based services for adults and youth, emphasizing mental illness and substance use treatment and characterized by expansive service offerings.
These competitors demonstrate various strengths, including geographical reach, service diversity, and specialized crisis intervention capabilities, providing a context for AHCS to strategize its service offerings and community impact initiatives accordingly.
