Jefferson County Councilwoman Lori Arons is urging residents to email or handwrite a letter to the Missouri Behavioral Health Council and the Department of Mental Health to establish a youth behavioral health urgent care center in the county.
Arons said in a written statement that the nearest urgent care center focused on providing care and intervention for youth in crisis is in St. Peters.
Arons is collaborating with Sue Curfman, senior vice president of regional corporate services with Compass Health, to establish an urgent care center in the county. The center would employ specialized staff who are adept at caring for youth experiencing mental health crises; assessing and managing youth risks, including self-harm or harm to others; developing care plans; and providing support and resources for the youth’s family or legal guardians.
“As an educator with more than 30 years of experience in the classroom, primarily in middle school, I recognize the need for such a facility in Jefferson County,” Arons said. “I have talked with many educators and parents who also see the benefits for our students if there were a youth behavioral health urgent care center (YBHUCC) in our county.”
Arons said there is a “significant and alarming increase” in behavioral needs for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 9.5 percent of high school students have attempted suicide in the past year and 50 percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by the age of 14.
Jefferson County has more than 51,000 youth under the age of 18, representing 22.3 percent of the total population, according to the U.S. Census.
“Traditional mental health systems are often overwhelmed and lack the capacity to respond effectively to the increasing number of youths in crisis,” Arons said. “YBHUCCs are a highly effective response with the capacity to provide immediate, specialized care for children and adolescents experiencing mental health emergencies and provide a safe, supportive environment for stabilization and connection to ongoing services.”
Compass Health Network opened the St. Peters YBHUCC, at 111 Mexico Court, in July 2024. The center, which serves children 5-17, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., including holidays, according to the organization’s website.
Write a letter
Arons said handwritten letters expressing support for a YBHUCC in the county may be mailed to the Missouri Behavioral Health Council at P.O. Box 1007, Jefferson City, 65102, to the attention of director of community engagement, KC Rafferty. Emails may be sent to krafferty@mobhc.org. In addition, handwritten letters may be mailed to the Department of Mental Health at 1706 E. Elm St. (P.O. Box 687), Jefferson City, 65101. Emails may be sent to dbhmail@dmh.mo.gov.
“Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of our youth,” Arons said.