CORTLAND, N.Y. — Family Counseling Services of Cortland County, Inc., (FCS) will merge with a similar agency in Broome County as part of a strategic alliance to expand health and social services in central New York, the agency announced Friday.
FCS has been providing management services to Broome County Family & Children's Society for the past year, according to Lisa Hoeschele, executive director of Family Counseling Services of Cortland County. During this time, leadership from both agencies explored the feasibility of a merger and determined that a single entity with a larger regional footprint would "provide significant advantages," the agency said in a press release.
"The merger of these two agencies will ensure the continuation and expansion of needed services in a time of change as Medicaid moves into a managed care environment," FCS Board President Joseph F. Governali said.
Governali said each agency will continue to provide its own services but with a shared infrastructure. Hoeschele will continue to lead the newly merged agency as chief executive officer.
When the merger is fully completed at the end of 2017, the agency will employ more than 200 clinicians, prescribers and administrative support staff. Projected revenue for 2017 is $14.5 million.
The agency says it plans to expand clinic and school-based mental health services while also introducing more substance abuse treatment services. In Cortland County, the agency will launch a pilot project to "integrate primary care services for individuals enrolled in behavioral healthcare services, potentially replicating the service in their other practices in Madison and Broome counties."
In addition, a new clinic location will be opened in Morrisville, N.Y., to improve access to behavioral healthcare services for residents living the southern region of Madison County.
