A&C Aligns with Leadership Model of Parent Company Brightli
Integrated healthcare provider Adult & Child Health, a Brightli affiliate, has announced the promotions of Dr. Christne Negendank, MD, MBA, CCHP to Indiana Region President and Dr. Jessica Stembel, PsyD, HSPP, IMH-E to Indiana Region Chief Operating Officer. Adult & Child joined Burrell Behavioral Health, Preferred Family Healthcare, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, and other subsidiaries under the Brightli umbrella in March 2024, boosting the parent organization’s employee count to over 6,000 individuals across seven regions. The promotions of Dr. Negendank and Dr. Stembel align A&C with Brightli’s regional leadership model, which provides operational autonomy for each region to ensure services and operations are meeting the unique needs of the community. As President, Dr. Negendank provides strategic direction and leadership of A&C and the Indiana Region, assisting in the execution of short-term and long-term goals while engaging with community partners and leaders to help drive A&C’s continued success and growth in Central Indiana. “I am honored to have been given the opportunity to serve as President of Adult & Child Health. I look forward to continuing to work with Adult & Child’s dedicated staff who strive daily to provide compassionate and high-quality whole health care. Adult & Child Health is well-positioned to continue its 75-year legacy of excellence and innovation in health care and social services. We look forward to expanding our services and programming through strategic initiatives, community partnerships, and advocacy efforts. Our goal is to not only provide treatment to those in our local communities but also to help advocate for improved health care for all Hoosiers,” said Dr. Negendank. Dr. Negendank recently celebrated seven years of employment at A&C having joined the organization in 2017 as Associate Medical Director of Psychiatry before moving into the role of Chief Medical Officer. During her tenure, Dr. Negendank led the development and implementation of A&C’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program for substance use disorders. She has also helped A&C make tremendous strides in integrating primary and psychiatric care by strengthening working relationship among prescribers and fostering collaboration between medical and therapy staff. As Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Stembel oversees the day-to-day operations of A&C and the Indiana Region, facilitating teamwork across the organization’s leaders to ensure effective delivery of top-quality services to Central Indiana communities. “As Chief Operating Officer, I am incredibly excited about A&C’s opportunity to be a leader in the state’s transformation to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model, and the evolution of mental health, substance abuse treatment and primary healthcare. Emphasizing community partnerships through CCBHC is not just a strategic interchange but a commitment to holistic care. Together, we can foster a system of care where our Hoosiers and communities can thrive,” said Dr. Stembel. Dr. Stembel joined A&C in 2015 as a clinical psychologist providing oversight to multiple service lines and treatment teams while continuing direct clinical care. Since 2018 she has served A&C as Chief Clinical Officer, overseeing continuous quality improvement, behavioral health, primary care accreditation and corporate compliance. During her tenure, Dr. Stembel led the development of the Response and Resilience in Stressful Events team to respond to critical incidents both internally and within the community and organized the agency’s response during the COVID public health emergency. She has also increased A&C’s 340B Drug Discount Program revenue to 12 million dollars, enabling the organization to stretch scarce federal resources to provide comprehensive and integrated health services to eligible patients who may not otherwise receive care. “Dr. Negendank and Dr. Stembel’s exceptional leadership, combined with their deep industry knowledge, will be instrumental in driving our organization’s ability to serve our mission and the Indianapolis community. Their contributions are invaluable, and I am confident in their ability to lead our teams toward increased access to the quality care our communities deserve,” said A&C and Brightli CEO C.J. Davis.
Adult & Child Plans to Join Brightli Behavioral Health System
The Boards of Directors for Indianapolis-based Adult & Child Health and Springfield, Missouri-based Brightli, Inc. have signed documents expressing the companies’ intent to create a formal partnership between the two nonprofit organizations. Under the agreement, Adult & Child Health (A&C), a state-designated Community Mental Health Center (CMHC), would join nearly a half dozen other behavioral and community health providers as member organizations of Brightli, the nation’s fourth-largest nonprofit behavioral health organization by total revenue. The partnership has been approved by each company’s board and is anticipated to be finalized in coming weeks pending regulatory approval. A public signing and press conference will be announced once the partnership closes, which is expected in early 2024. The partnership will significantly increase financial and system support resources available to Adult & Child, for the benefit of those with behavioral health needs in central Indiana. “To expand services in our communities, we need altogether new and different approaches,” said A&C President and CEO Allen Brown. “With Brightli we’ve found a tremendous partner who is willing to dream big, and I know they feel the same way about Adult & Child.” Indiana is one of 10 states selected to participate in the second round of the federal Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration project, beginning next year. Missouri was part of the first cohort of demonstration states in 2017; CCBHC has since become state law. In coming months, the Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addiction is expected to announce which Community Mental Health Centers will be part of the state’s first round of CCBHC demonstration agencies. “The CCBHC approach for community mental health is exactly what’s needed, and the time is now. Effective implementation and optimization of the CCBHC model truly changes the trajectory of what is possible in the behavioral health space,” Brown added. Brightli’ s existing member organizations include multiple CMHC/CCBHCs, including the second largest CCBHC in the country, Burrell Behavioral Health. In the first five years under CCBHC in Missouri, Burrell’s total revenue grew by 125%, clients served grew by 163%, and it added 1,000 employees to its statewide workforce. Dr. C.J. Davis is CEO of Brightli. Davis previously served as CEO of an Indiana CMHC from 2012 to 2017. “I have never stopped caring about Indiana or following the progress of the behavioral health industry here,” Davis said. “To be able to return, and to do so through a company with the legacy and respect that A&C carries in this community, is a dream come true. Brightli shares the commitment to mission this team lives out every day, and I am truly excited to see what we can do together.” “The fact that Indiana is such a forward-thinking state, with strong leadership at the very top, will only aid our efforts to recruit top-of-field providers to the Hoosier State,” Davis added. Upon approval, A&C will retain its board of directors and continue to operate under the Adult & Child Health name, serving its existing area of downtown Indianapolis, greater Marion and Johnson counties, and the surrounding region. As a Brightli affiliate, A&C will be positioned within a family of systems, able to receive significant resources and support from the parent organization. Adult & Child Health joins Burrell Behavioral Health, Preferred Family Healthcare, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, and other subsidiaries under the Brightli umbrella. Burrell and Preferred Family each have various subsidiaries and affiliates, providing a full behavioral health (CMHC) and community health (FQHC) continuum, including dental services, as well as significant developmental services operations. Brightli currently serves more than 100,000 individuals in four states. With the addition of A&C, Brightli would employ some 5,500 individuals with total revenue of more than $500 million. “The landscape for mental health care is changing. A&C could not be more excited to be at the forefront of that change with Brightli as our long-term partners in Indiana,” Brown said. About Adult & Child Health:Adult & Child Health, a Joint Commission accredited community mental health center and Federally Qualified Healthcare Center Look Alike (FQHC) in Central Indiana, strives for equitable, caring communities where all people can live healthy, purposeful lives. Services include behavioral health, primary care, social services, and addictions treatment, all of which are designed to provide quick, affordable, and efficient access to high quality care. Please visit adultandchild.org for more information. About Brightli:Brightli, Inc.’s subsidiaries include Burrell Behavioral Health (including Comprehensive Mental Health Services), Preferred Family Healthcare and Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health. While these organizations operate independently and are governed by separate board of directors, their operations and services benefit from this parent-company model, which allows them to collaborate, share resources and system supports, increase recruiting and retention efforts, increase access to specialized care, and meet the growing demand for behavioral and addiction recovery care. Alone, organizations may be able to navigate the current tumultuous healthcare environment, but we believe that together we can do so much more than survive. Our communities need us now more than ever, and by working together we are ready to answer their call for years to come. In all, Brightli member organizations total more than 5,000 employees in four states, with annual revenues of nearly $450 million.
Adult & Child Partners with Jane Pauley CHC for Integrated Health
Adult & Child Center is partnering with the Jane Pauley Community Health Center to provide primary care services within Adult & Child’s behavioral health offices at 8320 Madison Ave., Indianapolis. The new integrated health clinic offers a team approach to total health care for ages 13 and older. The clinic opened its doors on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. Integrated Care is a team approach that helps individuals be their healthiest selves – mind and body – by receiving coordinated whole health services all at one location. The Jane Pauley at Adult & Child Integrated Health Clinic will provide a full range of primary care and behavioral health services to address an individual’s physical and mental health. “We know that individuals with mental health needs are at greater risk of having co-occurring chronic physical illness,” said Allen Brown, Adult & Child CEO. “This is an opportunity for behavioral health staff to work collaboratively with primary care staff to consider how someone’s physical health may be impacting their mental health, and vice versa.” Marc Hackett, Executive Director of The Jane Pauley Community Health Center, said, “We are committed to providing affordable, accessible, and high-quality primary care services. Our expansion of clinic sites demonstrates the community’s need for low-cost, convenient primary care. This unique behavioral health partnership with Adult and Child helps us better meet the community’s needs for total health.” We are proud to be one of only a few partnerships in the State of Indiana to leverage the resources of a Federally Qualified Health Center, a Community Mental Health Center, and a Licensed Child Placement Agency to collectively improve the lives of people who experience physical health concerns, mental illness, addictions, and trauma. About Adult & Child: Adult & Child is a non-profit agency with services that help people live healthier lives and reach their goals. We support people of all ages, impacting every area of life. Our behavioral health and child welfare staff partner with clients to help them set goals for mental wellness and self-sufficiency, and meet those goals. About The Jane Pauley Community Health Center: Established in 2009, The Jane Pauley Community Health Center serves the local community, regardless of insurance or income, with an emphasis on integrating medical and behavioral health. The center also focuses on the management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiac disease and depression. They served 5,870 unique patients in 2012.
