Our agency was incorporated as Mental Health Services of Franklin & Williamson Counties, Inc., on March 3, 1969, and has been providing services since January 1, 1970. In 1991, we became Franklin-Williamson Human Services, Inc. For 40 years our agency has been providing community behavioral health services; we are headquartered in West Frankfort, IL with two large outpatient locations in Marion, IL and have a total of 14 sites, with approximately 290 regular employees. We have a 24 member governing board of experienced and dedicated individuals from Franklin and Williamson Counties lead by Michelle Hamilton. We are linked with seven other Boards that provide insight, advocacy, and fundraising in support of our services.
FWHS, Inc. has a history of distinguished leadership that includes our two former Administrators/CEO's, Floyd E. Cunningham who retired in 1995, and Dr. David J. Melby who retired in 2006. Under their leadership and continuing today, our agency has maintained national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for 25 years, assuring that our accredited programs meet national service standards. Also our experienced staff maintains state and national licensures and certifications across a variety of professional fields.
In the current economic climate and with the challenges it presents, it has become more difficult to meet our community mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities need for local children and adults. Our agency has had to envision and lead with forward-thinking strategies to diversify income opportunities, including providing services in unserved or under-served areas. We continue to seek out and implement systems to become more efficient and effective while maintaining the quality service for which we have been know for the past 40 years. Our team members provide individualized, quality services and are recognized regionally as proficient in the practice of behavioral health.
FWHS has a history of working through strategic partnerships. As part of this strategy, we have and are partnering with others in our community to capitalize on areas of strength and expertise. As an example, we have partnered with the Laborers Union since 1995. They were represent our collective bargaining unit of approximately 150 staff. In 2003 we began another strategic partnership with Shawnee Health Services. The Illinois Centre site in Marion is where we have this joint healthcare partnership and will see the expansion in the areas of dental and primary healthcare services this year.
We are also in the process of building two new residential facilities in Herrin, IL to better serve individuals with developmental disabilities. We look forward to working with the Herrin community and growing our capacity of services for those with developmental disabilities.
Like other providers locally and nationally, our agency has been struggling to maintain adequate funding for many years. in addition, competition for funding has grown tremendously in the past ten years. Though our primary service area is Franklin and Williamson counties in Southern Illinois, we currently serve, in some capacity, individuals from the southern most 27 counties in Illinois and clients from surrounding states representiing 1.1 million people!
Franklin-Williamson Human Services, nurtured with community support and assistance, has provided quality, life-changing behavioral health services to our families, friends, and neighbors for 40 years. These deep community roots, will allow us to continue to thrive and branch out into new service areas to meet additional behavioral healthcare needs. Our goal is to be the provider of choice for anyone seeking behavioral health services.
Our thought-provoking new name will better reflect who we are and lends itself to increased publicity, marketing, and fundraising opportunities - so we can continue to Build Better Tomorrows ... Today for the next 40 years!!!
John G. Markley, MBA
CEO/Administrator
