Attendees gathered to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health (SEMOBH) at its open house Friday, May 9, listening to several speakers that helped highlight the facility and its evolution and impact on the surrounding community. Attendees were able to hear from staff members on the growth and history of the facility, as well as two individuals who shared their recovery through the facility’s programs.
The Salem facility located at 203 North Grand Street was built in 1991. The Salem Treatment Center houses a 25-bed inpatient substance-use disorder treatment center, plus offices for outpatient treatment for clients experiencing a variety of behavioral health issues. SEMOBH also offers community and preventative service programs, including suicide prevention education training.
Across southeast Missouri, SEMOBH employs more than 200 team members and specializes in individualized treatment for personal and family needs in the areas of substance-use disorders, psychiatric and behavioral health and community services. SEMOBH also operates clinics in Rolla, Houston, and Steelville.
The agency was founded in 1974 and was founded as Southeast Missouri Community Treatment Center. In 2011, the facility became Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredited, meeting safe and effective quality and service standards. In 2023, SEMOBH joined the Brightli Foundation, an organization that spans five states and provides support for human resources, finance, marketing, and communications.
Brightli Southeast Regional President Cathy Schroer gave an introduction to attendees, sharing that she was thankful for everyone for attending the celebration and emphasizing that 50 years was more than just a celebration of being a community member, it was a celebration of taking care of those the organization serves. She shared a special thank you to Dr. Barron Pratte, who has worked for SEMOBH for more than 46 years.
“If it weren’t for Dr. Pratte, this would not have been possible and would not be what we have today or what we will have tomorrow,” stated Schroer to Dr. Pratte.
Schroer further emphasized and thanked Salem Treatment Center’s longstanding staff and their commitment to their patients, with many serving more than 20 years at the facility, contributing to its success and ability to serve the community.
To further emphasize how important the facility is, Schroer invited two people to the podium to share their journeys through the recovery program that the Salem Treatment Center offers.
Courtney Thompson, now a counselor at Salem Treatment Center, shared her personal journey of recovery from addiction and trauma.
Thompson faced significant struggles in her youth that led to substance abuse. Initially resistant to treatment and attending the program only to avoid jail, Thompson eventually reached a turning point after the loss of a loved one in 2017. Motivated by her children and a desire to do better by herself, she committed fully to recovery at SEMOBH, completing inpatient treatment for the first time. Her counselor, Clint Shuman, played a pivotal role in holding her accountable throughout the program. She later became a peer support specialist.
“It has changed my life, just so much—just knowing that I can now be that person that helps others who are currently struggling,” shared Thompson. “People that are on the verge of losing their children, who are just mentally at their end and can't see the light.”
Another testimony of recovery at the Salem Treatment Center came from Jennifer Baker, a drug court graduate. After growing up in an abusive household and losing her father to a drunk driving accident at age 12, Baker began drinking as a coping mechanism in her late teens. Later in life, a functioning alcoholic working multiple jobs, Baker didn’t realize how big the issue was until a drunk driving accident resulted in the loss of her friend.
“I got accepted [into drug court]—I made their life very rough, very rough, but they still cared for me,” shared Baker. “They were still there. No matter what—if I was having a bad day, if I was having a good day.”
Shortly after participating in drug court, she lost her infant daughter to medical complications. Despite this, she stayed in the program and graduated—today, she has a stable job, family, and lives a clean, fulfilling life, and credits SEMOBH for helping her get to a happy ending.
The facility offers a wealth of resources for patients, including a self-administer medication room, where patients have their own locker with medication, overseen by a staff member who verifies when medications are taken. The self-administration encourages the building of routines, a much-needed life skill.
The facility also offers women’s and men’s lounge rooms, as well as group rooms where patients receive education on the disease of addiction and the process of recovery. Other education is provided, including education on social-family dynamics and cognitive behavioral therapy.
“They get educated to better understand what’s going on with them, and also how to address those issues,” shared Regional Director Fred Utley.
Every patient that comes into the building has their own bed and wall cabinet to store their things. Anytime the patient leaves, everything is sanitized, and a card is put on the bed designating it as such.
“We want them to feel as easy and comfortable as possible when they come in here,” shared Utley. “Above all, we never want to set that jail appearance or anything here—we want them to feel comfortable.”
Patients are given access to an outdoor area where they are able to enjoy recreation and time to enjoy sunshine and physical activity.
Patients are also able to access telehealth services within the facility, with Utley emphasizing that before patients leave, the goal is to ensure they are stabilized, put on the proper medication, and set up with a continuing care doctor.
