The Sedgwick County Commission approved a first-amendment agreement on Oct. 15 to continue and strengthen services provided by Pyxis (formerly Behavioral Link) as part of the county’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program.

Chantelle Westbrook, clinical and rehabilitation director for Comcare, said the Pyxis partnership provides wraparound services for youth who need additional supports beyond clinic-based case management. ‘‘They really act as an extension of our services, and we’re able to to really provide more and give that youth more opportunity,’’ Westbrook said.

Westbrook described examples of services Pyxis provides under the CCBHC arrangement: after‑school skill-building groups (anger management, social skills, depression/anxiety support), one-on-one life-skills training for transitional-age youth (16–17), respite services, support for foster youth and transportation assistance to reduce barriers to care. She said the goal is to keep youth in the least restrictive environment and reduce the need for juvenile corrections or higher levels of care.

Commissioners emphasized the partnership’s role in juvenile diversion and foster care support. Chairman Beatty and Commissioner Meitzner noted conversations with juvenile court judges about the prevalence of mental‑health or substance-use disorders in youth court dockets and the importance of early intervention.

Item M (the first-amendment CCBHC agreement with Pyxis) was pulled from the larger consent agenda for public discussion; commissioners then approved the amendment as part of the consent agenda votes.

The action establishes the contract amendment as part of Comcare’s service network; Comcare staff said they hold Pyxis to outcomes and standards consistent with county behavioral-health goals.