Community Counseling Services reports rise in crisis work, asks Oktibbeha County for larger share of regional funding

Sweetening Wilcox, a Community Counseling Services representative, told the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors on May 20 that the agency served hundreds of local residents in the 2024 fiscal year and is requesting an increase in county funding to keep pace with growing demand.

"In fiscal year 2024, we served 592 adults, which is an equivalent of 5,303 therapy appointments," Wilcox said, listing additional services including more than 4,000 case-management visits and about 1,200 psychiatric appointments. She said the agency served 213 children in 2024 and noted specialized programs including an I-CORP intensive program for people repeatedly hospitalized and a PSR program serving about 19–22 clients per day.

Wilcox described a sharp rise in pre-affidavit assessments tied to a change in the commitment process. "What used to be where a family went straight to chancery court," she said, "now anyone can come to our office…