The Shadow
This Alleghany Highlands Community Services is celebrating 40 years as one of the 40 established code of Virginia sites, under the leadership of Ingrid Barber. Barber has been at the helm for 14 of those years and is the first African American to serve as Executive Director of the AHCS.
To kick off the 40th year, AHCS created a new logo to show the diversity of those served throughout the 40 years and have updated their brochures and their letterhead, accordingly. They also held a program to celebrate this milestone, last month, at Mountain Gateway Community College in Clifton Forge.
Derrick “Fly Ty” and Jacinda Jacobs, former co-hosts for the National Basketball Association’s Charlotte Hornets served as the keynote speakers and the following 2023 community partners were also recognized at the event, they are as follows: Anne Dean; Local Law Enforcement; KOVAR; LewisGale Hospital Alleghany; The Honorable Judge Edward K. Stein; Michelle P. Menefee-Dun, MS, CCC-SLP; Alleghany Highlands Public Schools; The Garten Family; and the Alleghany Foundation.
AHCS continues to grow, currently operating ten sites throughout the Alleghany Highlands, to include Alleghany County, the city of Covington, and the Towns of Clifton Forge and part of Iron Gate, to Botetourt County, with a staff of approximately 160 who provide 18 core services over three program areas: mental health, substance use, and developmental services.
Going forward AHCS has applied for and received approval for United States Department of Justice grant funds in the amount of $999,806 for federal drug court enhancements. This grant is good for four years.
They also plan to stand up a Mobile Crisis Team to respond if someone in the community is having a crisis and they hope, with the support of local government, to apply for Opioid Abatement Funds. These funds would enable AHCS to expand and build out their substance use services behind the clinic. This would serve as a one-stop-shop service, staffed by clinicians.
In addition, they are looking at building a crisis continuum to consist of a build-out of 23-hour crisis and residential crisis stabilization unit services, with hopes of adding detox services in the community and applying for permanent supportive housing funds to secure appropriate housing for those being served.
“We cannot continue to operate with the same amount of funds and resources we operated with 20 years ago,” said Barber. She explained that everything is going up and “we have to take care of our workforce and pay people in order to provide these services.”
Barber explained that one of her challenges is attracting, retaining, and recruiting people to come to the area, especially with so many young people leaving the area upon graduation. She appreciates those who have been dedicated for 30 years or more but recognizes they are nearing retirement and the services must continue.
“We are proud to serve our community and provide all of the things we provide because there are a lot of Community Services Boards that are larger than us but do not provide the number of services we provide,” said Barber.
Barber often travels to Richmond in her role as chair of the Virginia Association of Community Services Board’s Executive Directors, working on initiatives and pushing advocacy efforts. “Part of the reason why I have the aspiration to do what I do is because I know we don’t have the resources back here,” said Barber. “I’m always looking for opportunities to do a build-out here to serve our people in our community, so they don’t have to go anywhere else, as transportation is a barrier for many,” added Barber.
“We have worked really hard to push for grant funding to subsidize our budget to do some of the things we do. We don’t receive a lot of money. Most of the money we receive goes into services,” said Barber in conclusion.
According to their 2022 annual report, the AHCS conducted 623 assessments and evaluations; performed 743 medical services, 388 emergency services, 193 substance use disorders, and 286 children’s services over the last year. They operate on state, federal, and local government funding.
The AHCS expresses appreciation to their leadership team: Barber, ED; Patty Flanagan, Finance Director; Crystal Homer, Human Resources Director; Lynn Brackenridge, Quality Improvement Director; Adam Kenny, Information Technology Director; Angie Goodbar, Developmental Services Director; Susan Chittum, Clinical Services Director; and Tiffany Bowser, Community Supports Director and their board of directors: city of Covington, Stephanie Clark, vice chair; Lisa Hicks, and Robert McCallister; Alleghany County: Dianne Garcia; Teresa Johnson, Treasurer/Secretary; Nolan Nicely, Jr., Robin Sweeney, Brenda Woodie, Chair; and Shawn Wright.
