While the two agencies will remain “whole organizations,” areas like billing, accounting and human resources will be centralized. They each will also keep their own facilities. Transitional Living will still employ its 75 staffers and Sojourner’s 115 people will also stay.
“By combining Sojourner and Transitional Living under one parent company we will be better suited to meet the diverse needs of the mental health community, and at the same time be better positioned to continue our efforts to fight the growing heroin epidemic,” said Scott Gehring, who heads Sojourner and was named CEO of the new organization. “This is truly a merger of equals to better serve our community.”
Kathy Becker, the CEO at Transitional Living, was named senior vice president of the new organization.
“I think this is only going to benefit the citizens of Butler County … for two vital agencies and services to be a one-stop shop for those who need it,” she said.
The recent merger of the Butler County Mental Health Board and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board showed "it really makes sense for you to have both addiction services and mental health under one roof," Gehring said. "You can provide a comprehensive service to the clients that have co-occurring needs."
Both nonprofits are coming together from a position of strength, according to Gehring.
Usually, he said, two agencies combine if one or both are struggling. This merger, however, was not a financial decision, he said.
The newly created organization will be hiring for several management positions, and Gehring said there are plans to expand services.
Sojourner is a provider for several county agencies, including Butler County Children Services and the Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services (MHARS) board. Transitional Living does a lot of work with the Butler County Jail.
Bill Morrison, director of Children Services, called the merger critical.
“The majority of the clients we currently send to Sojourner also have mental health conditions that are integral to provide support to them as they try to achieve sobriety,” he said. “So combining those two services makes perfect sense.”
Julie Payton, senior director of addiction services at the MHARS board said the merger was needed.
“The partnering of these two high quality agencies, each with their own unique focus, will offer opportunities for cross-training, improved efficiencies and enhanced quality of care for Butler County residents with dual problems of substance abuse and mental illness,” she said.
“With the extensive need in our community, every effort by agencies to better serve clients is a welcome addition,” Payton said.
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