How To Get Affordable State Sponsored Therapy in Arkansas
Many people don’t realize that publicly-funded mental health services are available in their state. People looking for free or low-cost counseling often think their only options are counselors in private practice and don’t know that publicly-funded providers in their communities may also offer counseling services.
While state-based programs are not for everyone, they’re often a great place to start for people who face geographic or financial barriers to therapy. Intake specialists at community mental health programs can help people learn whether they qualify for state-funded services and can refer people who don’t qualify to other low-cost programs that may be able to meet their needs.
On This Page
- When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?
- Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in Arkansas?
- How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in Arkansas?
- Northwest and North Central Arkansas Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Northeast Arkansas Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Central Arkansas Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Southwest Arkansas Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Southeast Arkansas Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
- How Does Arkansas' Public Mental Health System Work?
When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?
Few private mental health providers are able to immediately serve people in crisis, while most state mental health agencies, including Arkansas’s, have crisis response systems that help people get mental health care quickly in an emergency. This usually makes public mental health services the best option if you’re having a mental health crisis and need help right away. The people who answer state crisis lines can provide caring attention and support as they help you determine the best response to a crisis, whether it’s inpatient treatment or an appointment with a counselor.
Publicly-funded outpatient mental health programs in Arkansas include community mental health centers (CMHCs) and licensed behavioral health agencies (BHAs). In addition to affordable therapy, CMHCs provide specialized and intensive services that aren’t available anywhere else or that are hard to find in private clinics, like case management and day treatment. Some BHAs offer the same array of services as CMHCs, while others are smaller and primarily serve as counseling providers. Consider going to a publicly-funded outpatient program if you need intensive treatment, live in an area with limited mental health resources, or can’t access mental health care in the private sector due to your diagnosis or financial situation.
Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in Arkansas?
Arkansas does not have strict eligibility requirements for access to public mental health services. However, the state system prioritizes people who have limited incomes and who cannot access mental health care using their insurance. This includes people who lack insurance and people who have insurance plans with inadequate mental health care coverage. The state also prioritizes people involved with the criminal justice system and people with serious mental illness (SMI).
According to Arkansas mental health policy, people “with mental health problems” who are not members of the above groups “are [also] eligible for the services of the public mental health system… to the extent that funds are available.” This means that if you don’t have an SMI or a limited income, whether you can receive mental health services from publicly-funded providers in your county depends on your local programs and the funds they have available.
In Arkansas, CMHCs and BHAs are independent programs that contract with the state to provide publicly-funded services. So, while they are bound by state licensure requirements, they are able to make some independent decisions about what services they provide and the extent to which they offer those services to people who aren’t members of state-designated priority populations. If you don’t qualify for state financial assistance, you may still be able to get affordable therapy at these programs. Many take both public and private insurance plans and charge sliding-scale fees based on income.
How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in Arkansas?
The best way to find out whether you can get the services you need at a local CMHC or BHA in Arkansas is to call the program directly. Intake counselors can help you find out if you qualify for services and can give you information about how to get the care you need if you don’t. We’ve listed contact information for Arkansas CMHCs and BHAs below to help get you started.
Arkansas allows independently licensed practitioners (ILPs) to provide state-funded services. We have restricted the listings in this article to agencies and larger group practices, but you can find a list of all currently licensed BHAs and ILPs in your county on the “How to Get Help” page on the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) website. That page also includes directories for CMHCs and substance abuse treatment programs.
Another way to get information about providers in your area is to call the DHS Mental Health and Addiction Support Line at (844) 763-0198. You can call the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services (DAABHS) central office at (501) 686-9164 for general information about the state mental health system.
Northwest and North Central Arkansas Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 2: Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, Johnson, Perry, Pope, Searcy, Stone, Van Buren, and Yell Counties
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Counseling Associates, Inc.
- Main Number: (501) 336-8300
- After-Hours Crisis Line for Conway, Faulkner, Johnson, Perry, Pope, and Yell Counties: (800) 844-2066
- After-Hours Crisis Line for Cleburne, Searcy, Stone, and Van Buren Counties: (800) 592-9503
- 24-7 Non-Emergency Warm Line: (833) 236-2131
- Main Office (Conway): (501) 336-8300
- Clarksville Office: (479) 754-8610
- Clinton Office: (501) 745-8007
- Danville Office: (479) 495-5557
- Heber Springs Office: (501) 206-0831
- Marshall Office: (870) 448-2176
- Morrilton Office: (501) 354-1561
- Mountain View Office: (870) 269-4193
- Perryville Office: (501) 889-1590
- Russellville Office: (479) 968-1298
- Other State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Region 2:
- Boston Mountain Rural Health Center Behavioral Health Services:
- Marshall Office: (870) 448-5733
- Clinton Office: (501) 745-7888
- Center Ridge Office: (501) 893-6197
- Mountain View Office : (870) 269-2995
- Chenal Family Therapy:
- Clinton Office: (501) 781-2230
- Conway Office: (501) 781-2230
- Heber Springs Office: (501) 781-2230
- Connections Behavioral Health (Russellville): (479) 518-4751 or (800) 461-1793
- Methodist Counseling Clinic (Heber Springs): (501) 365-3022
- Peace of Mind Counseling Centers, PLLC (Greenbrier): (501) 581-7703
- Boston Mountain Rural Health Center Behavioral Health Services:
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Counseling Associates, Inc.
- Region 5: Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Polk, Sebastian, and Scott Counties
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center
- Main Number: (479) 452-6650
- Crisis Line: (800) 542-1031
- Non-Emergency Warm Line: (479) 452-6655
- Main Office (Fort Smith): (479) 452-6650
- Van Buren Office: (479) 474-8084
- Ozark Office: (479) 667-2497
- Booneville Office: (479) 675-3909
- Paris Office: (479) 963-2140
- Waldron Office: (479) 637-2468
- Mena Office: (479) 394-5277
- Other State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Region 5:
- Baptist Health Outpatient Mental Health Clinic (Fort Smith): (479) 709-7455
- Bost Behavioral Health (Fort Smith): (479) 478-5673
- Cedar Haven Outpatient Behavioral Health Services (Mena): (479) 394-6100
- Chenal Family Therapy (Fort Smith): (479) 595-0333
- Connections Behavioral Health (Fort Smith): (479) 518-4751 or (800) 461-1793
- Healthy Connections, Inc. Evolve Behavioral Health Services (Mena): (800) 409-6250
- Methodist Counseling Clinics (Alma): (479) 632-1022
- Stonehaven Behavioral Health and Wellness (Greenwood): (479) 996-5433
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center
- Region 8: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, and Washington Counties
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Ozark Guidance Center, Inc.
- Main Number and Crisis Line: (479) 750-2020 or (800) 234-7052
- Non-Emergency Warm Line: (833) 236-2131
- Main Office (Springdale): (479) 750-2020
- Bentonville Miriam Enfield Center: (479) 273-9088
- Berryville Office: (870) 423-2758
- Harrison Office: (870) 204-7488
- Huntsville Office: (479) 738-2878
- Mountain Home Office: (870) 232-4385
- Siloam Springs Office: (479) 524-8618
- Other State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Region 8:
- Boston Mountain Rural Health Center Behavioral Health Services:
- Yellville Office: (870) 449-7000
- Harrison Office: (870) 741-6373
- Huntsville Office: (479) 738-5500
- Green Forest Office: (870) 438-6615
- Jasper Office: (870) 446-2225
- Deer Office: (870) 428-5391
- Burrell Behavioral Health:
- Main Number: (479) 575-9471
- Rogers Clinic: (479) 636-0083
- Fayetteville Clinic: (479) 521-1532 or (800) 628-2260
- Berryville Clinic: (870) 423-1077
- Harrison Clinic: (870) 741-8484
- Mountain Home Clinic: (870) 425-5644
- Chenal Family Therapy:
- Harrison Office: (870) 340-2636
- Rogers Office: (479) 595-0333
- Connections Behavioral Health (Fayetteville): (479) 518-4751 or (800) 461-1793
- Eason Counseling and Associates:
- Rogers Office: (479) 435-4207
- Fayetteville Office: (479) 435-4207
- Springdale Office: (479) 435-4207
- Families, Inc. Counseling Services:
- Main Number: (877) 595-8869
- Mountain Home Office: (870) 425-1041
- Family Psychological Center (Harrison): (870) 743-6225
- Hometown Behavioral Health Services of Arkansas, Inc.:
- Hoxie Office: (870) 886-1333
- Mountain Home Office: (870) 701-5141
- Mercy Clinic Behavioral Health (Lowell): (479) 717-7626
- Methodist Counseling Clinics (Fayetteville): (479) 582-5565
- Life Strategies Counseling, Inc. (Rogers): (479) 372-6464
- Psychology and Counseling Associates:
- Fayetteville Office: (479) 443-5575
- Rogers Office: (479) 442-2311
- Stone Path Counseling (Fayetteville): (479) 435-6047
- Vantage Point of Northwest Arkansas IOP Program (Fayetteville): (479) 551-9840
- Boston Mountain Rural Health Center Behavioral Health Services:
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Ozark Guidance Center, Inc.
Northeast Arkansas Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 7: Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Randolph, Sharp, St. Francis, and White Counties
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Mid-South Health Systems, Inc.
- Main Number: (870) 972-4000
- Crisis Line for Craighead, Clay, Greene, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Randolph Counties: (800) 356-3035
- Crisis Line for Crittenden, Cross, Lee, Monroe, Phillips, and St. Francis Counties: (800) 382-3117
- Crisis Line for Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Sharp, Woodruff, and White Counties: (800) 592-9503
- Non-Emergency Warm Line for All Counties: (833) 236-2131
- Clay County Office (Corning): (870) 857-3655
- Craighead County Office (Jonesboro): (870) 972-4050
- Crittenden County Office (West Memphis): (870) 735-5118
- Fulton County Office (Salem): (870) 919-8705
- Greene County Office (Paragould): (870) 239-2244
- Independence County Office (Batesville): (870) 919-3381
- Izard County Office (Melbourne): (870) 919-8503
- Jackson County Office (Newport): (870) 919-8432
- Lawrence County Office (Walnut Ridge): (870) 886-7924
- Lawrence County Office (Wynne): (870) 238-1135
- Lee County Office (Marianna): (870) 295-4050
- Mississippi Office (Blytheville): (870) 763-2139
- Monroe County Office (Brinkley): (870) 734-3202
- Phillips County Office (Helena): (870) 338-3900
- Poinsett County Office (Trumann): (870) 418-1777
- Randolph County Office (Pocahontas): (870) 892-7111
- Sharp County Office (Cherokee Village): (870) 919-8608
- St. Francis County Office (Forrest City): (870) 630-3880
- White County Office (Searcy): (870) 919-6320
- Woodruff County Office (Augusta): (870) 919-2985
- Other State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Region 7:
- A Time for Peace, PLLC (Lake City): (870) 237-1329
- Boston Mountain Rural Health Center Behavioral Health Services:
- South Side Office (Independence County): (501) 654-2006
- Changes Behavioral Health, LLC (Wynne): (870) 208-8499
- Chenal Family Therapy:
- Jonesboro Office: (870) 340-2636
- Searcy Office: (501) 781-2230
- East Arkansas Family Health Center:
- Main Location (West Memphis): (870) 735-3842
- Healthy Partners Blytheville: (870) 532-6001
- Earle Family Health Center: (870) 792-7676
- Helena Family Health Center: (87) 817-0122
- Lepanto Family Health Center: (870) 475-2977
- Marvell Family Health Center: (870) 829-1194
- Trumann Family Health Center: (870) 483-1025
- Arkansas Delta AIDS Care Center (West Memphis): (870) 735-3291
- Families, Inc. Counseling Services:
- Main Number: (877) 595-8869
- Ash Flat Office: (870) 994-7060
- Jonesboro Office: (870) 933-6886
- Osceola Office: (870) 622-0592
- Paragould Office: (870) 335-9483
- Piggott Office: (870) 598-0306
- Pocahontas Office: (870) 892-1005
- Searcy Office: (501) 305-2359
- Trumann Office: (870) 483-4003
- Walnut Ridge Office (870) 886-5303
- First Choice Healthcare:
- Main Number: (870) 857-3334
- Corning Clinic: (870) 857-3399
- Ash Flat Clinic: (870) 994-2202
- Paragould Clinic: (870) 236-2000
- Pocahontas Clinic: (870) 892-9949
- Salem Clinic: (870) 895-2735
- Walnut Ridge Clinic: (870) 886-5507
- Foundation of Wellness Practice (Jonesboro): (870) 229-0302
- Harmony Counseling Clinic (Highland): (870) 856-2044
- Hometown Behavioral Health Services of Arkansas, Inc.:
- Hoxie Office: (870) 886-1333
- Mountain Home Office: (870) 701-5141
- Lee County Cooperative Clinic:
- Marianna Office: (870) 295-5225
- Madison Office: (870) 295-5225
- Hughes Office: (870) 339-4181
- Wabash Office: (870) 295-5225
- Life Strategies of Arkansas, LLC (West Memphis): (870) 732-1878
- Life Strategies Counseling, Inc.:
- Batesville Office: (870) 793-3199
- Blytheville Office: (870) 824-2268
- Jonesboro Office: (501) 663-2199
- Marion Office: (870) 732-7920
- Newport Office: (870) 495-1990
- Osceola Office: (870) 563-4500
- Paragould Office: (870) 236-5880
- Trumann Office: (870) 483-0068
- Life Within Counseling, LLC:
- Searcy Office: (501) 232-2600
- Beebe Office: (501) 232-2600
- Methodist Counseling Clinics:
- Batesville Clinic: (870) 569-4890
- Jonesboro Clinic: (870) 910-3757
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Mid-South Health Systems, Inc.
Central Arkansas Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 3: Saline County
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Counseling Clinic, Inc.
- Main Number: (501) 315-4224 or (501) 370-8231
- After-Hours Crisis Line: (501) 315-2415
- Main Office (Benton): (501) 315-4224
- Small Group Therapy Office (Hot Springs): (501) 623-3477
- Other State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Region 3:
- Chenal Family Therapy (Bryant): (501) 781-2230
- Livestrong, PLLC (Alexander): (501) 585-4445
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Counseling Clinic, Inc.
- Region 6: South Pulaski County (South of the Arkansas River)
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Centers for Youth and Families
- Main Number and Crisis Line: (501) 666-8686 or (888) 868-0023
- Main Office (Little Rock): (501) 666-8686
- Monticello Office: (870) 460-0066
- State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Pulaski County:
- Baptist Health Outpatient Mental Health Clinics:
- Sherwood Clinic: (501) 835-0703
- Little Rock Clinic: (501) 487-6010
- Behavioral Health Services of Arkansas (Little Rock): (501) 954-7470
- Chenal Family Therapy:
- North Little Rock Office: (501) 781-2230
- West Little Rock Office: (501) 781-2230
- CHI St. Vincent Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic (Little Rock): (501) 552-4755
- Families, Inc. Counseling Services:
- Main Number: (877) 595-8869
- Jacksonville Office: (501) 982-5000
- Healthy Connections, Inc. Evolve Behavioral Health Services:
- Evolve Health For Life Clinic (Little Rock): (888) 710-8220
- Evolve Little Rock Franklin (Little Rock): (888) 710-8220
- Life Strategies Counseling, Inc. (Little Rock): (501) 663-2199
- Livestrong, PLLC (Alexander): (501) 585-4445
- Living Hope Southeast (Little Rock Clinic): (501) 663-5473
- Methodist Counseling Clinic (Little Rock): (501) 537-3991
- Pathfinder Behavioral Health Services:
- Behavioral Health Services Office (Jacksonville): (501) 982-5402
- Behavioral Health Clinic (Jacksonville): (501) 533-6302
- Therapeutic Family Services (Little Rock): (501) 753-8400
- UAMS Behavioral Medicine Clinic (Little Rock): (501) 686-8700
- UAMS Walker Family Clinic (Little Rock): (501) 526-8200
- UAMS Women’s Mental Health Clinic (Little Rock): (501) 526-8201
- Baptist Health Outpatient Mental Health Clinics:
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Centers for Youth and Families
- Region 9: Lonoke, Prairie, and North Pulaski County (North of the Arkansas River)
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Professional Counseling Associates
- Main Number: (501) 955-7600
- Administrative Office: (501) 221-1843
- Crisis Line: (800) 592-9503
- Cabot Office: (501) 843-3503
- Jacksonville Office: (501) 982-7515
- Lonoke Office: (501) 676-3151
- Sherwood Office: (501) 835-4174
- Springhill/North Little Rock Office: (501) 955-7600
- State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Lonoke, Prairie, and Pulaski Counties:
- Baptist Health Outpatient Mental Health Clinics:
- Sherwood Clinic: (501) 835-0703
- Little Rock Clinic: (501) 487-6010
- Behavioral Health Services of Arkansas (Little Rock): (501) 954-7470
- Chenal Family Therapy:
- Cabot Office: (501) 781-2230
- North Little Rock Office: (501) 781-2230
- West Little Rock Office: (501) 781-2230
- CHI St. Vincent Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic (Little Rock): (501) 552-4755
- Families, Inc. Counseling Services:
- Main Number: (877) 595-8869
- Jacksonville Office: (501) 982-5000
- Healthy Connections, Inc. Evolve Behavioral Health Services:
- Evolve Health For Life Clinic (Little Rock): (888) 710-8220
- Evolve Little Rock Franklin (Little Rock): (888) 710-8220
- Life Strategies Counseling, Inc.:
- Cabot Office (Lonoke County): (501) 286-6053
- Little Rock Office (Pulaski County): (501) 663-2199
- Livestrong, PLLC (Alexander): (501) 585-4445
- Living Hope Southeast (Little Rock Clinic): (501) 663-5473
- Methodist Counseling Clinic (Little Rock): (501) 537-3991
- Pathfinder Behavioral Health Services:
- Behavioral Health Services Office (Jacksonville): (501) 982-5402
- Behavioral Health Clinic (Jacksonville): (501) 533-6302
- Therapeutic Family Services (Little Rock): (501) 753-8400
- UAMS Behavioral Medicine Clinic (Little Rock): (501) 686-8700
- UAMS Walker Family Clinic (Little Rock): (501) 526-8200
- UAMS Women’s Mental Health Clinic (Little Rock): (501) 526-8201
- Baptist Health Outpatient Mental Health Clinics:
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Professional Counseling Associates
Southwest Arkansas Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 1: Clark, Garland, Hot Spring, Montgomery, and Pike Counties
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness
- Main Number: (501) 624-7111
- Crisis Line: (800) 246-2410
- Main Office (Hot Springs): (501) 624-7111
- Malvern Office: (501) 332-5236
- Arkadelphia Office: (870) 246-4123
- Glenwood Office: (870) 246-4123
- Mt. Ida Office: (870) 246-4123
- Other State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Region 1:
- Cabun Rural Health Services (Amity): (870) 342-5606
- Chenal Family Therapy (Hot Springs): (501) 781-2230
- Healthy Connections, Inc. Evolve Behavioral Health Services:
- Hot Springs Office: (800) 409-6250
- Malvern Office: (800) 409-6250
- Evolve ASU Three Rivers: (800) 409-6250
- Arkadelphia Office: (800) 409-6250
- Mount Ida Office: (800) 409-6250
- Life Strategies Counseling, Inc. (Hot Springs): (501) 623-6000
- Livestrong, PLLC (Malvern): (501) 585-4445
- Living Hope Southeast (Hot Springs): (501) 623-9220
- Methodist Counseling Clinics (Hot Spring): (501) 318-6066
- Therapeutic Family Services:
- Malvern Clinic: (501) 332-4400
- Gurdon Clinic: (870) 353-6555
- Kirby Clinic: (501) 304-2089
- Hot Springs Clinic: (501) 321-8200
- Donaldson Clinic: (501) 384-5366
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness
- Region 10: Calhoun, Columbia, Dallas, Ouachita, Nevada, and Union Counties
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: South Arkansas Regional Health Center
- Main Number: (870) 862-7921
- Crisis Line: (800) 825-1554
- Main Office and Clinic (El Dorado): (870) 862-7921
- Magnolia Outpatient Clinic: (870) 234-7500
- Camden Outpatient Clinic: (870) 836-5743
- Other State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Region 10:
- Cabun Rural Health Services:
- Hampton Clinic: (870) 798-4299
- Strong Clinic: (870) 797-7620
- Bearden Clinic: (870) 687-3637
- Chenal Family Therapy (El Dorado): (870) 340-2636
- Methodist Counseling Clinics (Magnolia): (870) 234-0739
- Therapeutic Family Services (Prescott): (870) 887-9000
- Cabun Rural Health Services:
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: South Arkansas Regional Health Center
- Region 12: Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, and Sevier Counties
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Southwest Arkansas Counseling and Mental Health Center, Inc.
- Main Number: (870) 773-4655 or (800) 652-9166
- Crisis Line: (800) 652-9166
- Main Office (Texarkana): (870) 773-4655
- Annex Building (Texarkana): (870) 773-4655 or (870) 774-4485
- DeQueen Clinic: (870) 584-7115
- Hope Clinic: (870) 777-9051
- Nashville Clinic: (870) 845-3110
- Lewisville Part-Time Clinic: (870) 921-5485
- Other State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Region 12:
- Cabun Rural Health Services:
- Lewisville Clinic: (870) 921-5781
- Hope Clinic: (870) 777-8420
- Chenal Family Therapy:
- De Queen Office: (870) 340-2636
- Texarkana Office: (870) 340-2636
- Cornerstone Counseling Clinic (Nashville): (870) 455-0134
- Therapeutic Family Services:
- Hope Clinic: (870) 777-4848
- Lewisville Clinic: (870) 921-8200
- Cabun Rural Health Services:
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Southwest Arkansas Counseling and Mental Health Center, Inc.
Southeast Arkansas Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 4: Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha, and Drew Counties
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Delta Counseling Associates
- Main Number: (870) 367-2461
- Crisis Line: (800) 323-2703
- Main Office (Monticello): (870) 367-2461
- Crossett Office: (870) 364-6471
- Dumas Office: (870) 382-4001
- Lake Village Office: (870) 265-3808
- Warren Office: (870) 226-5856
- Other State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Region 4:
- Living Hope Southeast (Monticello): (870) 224-7100
- Mainline Health Systems, Inc. Behavioral Health Care:
- Dermott Office: (870) 538-3355
- Eudora Office: (870) 355-2512
- Monticello Office: (870) 367-6246
- Warren Office: (870) 226-6786
- Wilmot Office: (870) 473-2274
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Delta Counseling Associates
- Region 11: Arkansas, Cleveland, Grant, Jefferson, and Lincoln Counties
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Southeast Arkansas Behavioral Healthcare System, Inc.
- Main Number: (870) 534-1834
- Crisis Line: (800) 272-2008
- Main Office (Pine Bluff): (870) 534-1834
- 34th Avenue Office (Pine Bluff): (870) 534-1880
- Sheridan Office: (870) 942-5101
- Star City Office: (870) 628-4181
- Stuttgart Office: (870) 673-1633
- Other State-Licensed Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers for Region 11:
- Mainline Health Systems, Inc. Behavioral Health Care:
- Rison Office: (870) 325-6255
- Star City Office: (870) 628-5110
- Mainline Health Systems, Inc. Behavioral Health Care:
- Designated Community Mental Health Center: Southeast Arkansas Behavioral Healthcare System, Inc.
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another option for public mental health care in Arkansas. These federally-funded programs provide medical and mental health services to people in underserved communities. Their goal is to deliver high-quality coordinated care to people with complex needs and to link behavioral healthcare with primary medical care. Each FQHC accepts Medicaid and Medicare and offers sliding-scale fees to people without insurance. You can search for FQHCs using the online search tool on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
How Does Arkansas' Public Mental Health System Work?
In the 1960s, Americans started thinking differently about how to treat mental health conditions. New laws required state and local governments to establish community mental health programs as alternatives to institutionalization for people with serious mental illness. Many states’ public mental health programs trace their origins back to this period. Arkansas is no exception. Many of its CMHCs were founded in the 1960s and 1970s using funds from the Community Mental Health Act, which was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Like many states, Arkansas has made changes to its public mental health system in response to budget cuts and political pressure. The state recently changed what kinds of providers are eligible for state funds and how the state pays for their services. This opened the doors for independent practitioners to receive state funds, but put pressure on already struggling CMHCs. In response to the changes, one of the longest-standing outpatient mental health programs in the state, the Little Rock Community Mental Health Center, closed its doors in 2019. The state and its providers are working on new ideas and solutions to prevent further program closures.
Public mental health services in Arkansas are managed on the state level by the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services (DAABHS) within the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS). The DAABHS manages 12 mental health regions, each of which has a designated CMHC. In addition to CMHCs, the state licenses agencies and independent practitioners to provide state-funded services. All publicly-funded mental health providers in Arkansas are independent; no mental health services are directly provided by DHS, other than inpatient services at the Arkansas State Hospital in Little Rock and the Arkansas Health Center in Benton.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), only 47 percent of people in Arkansas who have mental health conditions get treatment for them. One reason for the care gap is that people aren’t aware of their options for affordable mental health care, including CMHCs and other publicly-funded programs. You can help change these statistics by reaching out and using your local mental health resources to get the care you need.