Johnson County Mental Health Center received a three‑year CARF accreditation, county officials announced Dec. 4. Tim DeWeese said the center is the first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in Kansas to receive CARF accreditation covering its adolescent treatment center, adult crisis stabilization center, 988 call center and prevention services.

DeWeese described the three‑year accreditation as the maximum CARF award and said the designation positions the center for enhanced services and competitiveness for grants. County Manager Posto Ferguson and several commissioners commended the center for leadership and innovation in mental‑health services.

Commissioners noted the accreditation could improve grant competitiveness and said Johnson County’s approach to crisis stabilization and 988 services serves as a model for other jurisdictions. DeWeese said only a small number of mental‑health centers in Kansas hold CARF accreditation and he will follow up with details on which organizations hold comparable accreditation.