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Astra Mental Health and Recovery tells Shawnee County commissioners merger has expanded access and cut wait times
Summary
At a Shawnee County commission work session, Astra Mental Health and Recovery presented its 2025 report on the merger of Valeo and Family Service & Guidance Center, citing service growth, shorter wait times and expanded crisis and school-based services while warning of funding and Medicaid eligibility risks.
Kathy Mosier, speaking for Astra Mental Health and Recovery, told the Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners that a January 1 merger of Valeo and Family Service & Guidance Center has increased service capacity and improved access across the county.
Mosier said the combined agencies delivered "258,000 plus services to 11,000 people" in 2025 and recorded a 9% overall increase in services year over year. She told commissioners therapy services rose 44% and that Astra reduced average wait time for care to about four days, below the state standard of 10 days. "When you serve someone at the time they need it, then what you know is they're not going to get worse waiting for it," she said.
The presenter emphasized workforce gains, saying Astra ran a pipeline that included more than 30 interns and new licensed clinicians without…
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