Welcome to the Van Buren Community Mental Health Authority. Our Board is dedicated to implementing the Mental Health Code, ensuring our community receives the support it needs.
Our Goals
We aim to provide accessible mental health and substance use services for everyone in Van Buren County. Our focus is on trauma-informed care for individuals with mental illness, emotional disturbances, intellectual or developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders. We prioritize those with the most severe needs, ensuring they receive the necessary support to live healthy, safe, and successful lives.
- Improve the functioning of children and families affected by mental health or substance use issues.
- Reduce the suicide rate in Van Buren County.
- Enhance substance use prevention efforts in the community.
- Improve the quality of life for adults and older adults with serious mental health or substance use challenges.
Board Membership Requirements
- At least one-third of members must be primary consumers or family members, with at least two being primary consumers.
- Members must be 18 years or older.
- No more than four members can be county commissioners.
- Less than half of the Board can be public officials, defined as those holding elected or appointed positions or working over 20 hours per week for a government agency.
- Members must reside in Van Buren County.
- Ineligibility includes those employed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or VBCMH, financially benefiting from VBCMH contracts, or in policy-making roles with agencies contracting with VBCMH.
Prospective members undergo background checks and must not be on federal exclusion lists that affect funding decisions.
Current Board Members
Meeting Information
The Board meets at least six times a year, usually on the 2nd Monday of the month at 6:00 PM. Meetings are held at the Human Services Building East in Paw Paw, MI. For more information, please visit the Van Buren County Community Mental Health website.
