LifeSpring Health Systems and Southern Hills Counseling Center finalize merger

LifeSpring Health Systems and Southern Hills Counseling Center announced they have officially merged into one organization.

The organization will retain the LifeSpring Health Systems name, and no staff or programs were changed as a result of the merger which is effective October 1, 2018.

Staff and Boards of Directors of both organizations spent more than a year performing due diligence reviews and determined that the residents of Southern Indiana could best be served by merging to a single entity.

“We have identified many ways that we can more effectively and efficiently serve Southern Indiana residents by working together,” LifeSpring CEO, Dr. Terry Stawar said in a press release. “Individuals from Madison to Rockport will now be able to receive comprehensive care all within one organization. We look forward to carrying on the longstanding tradition of providing high quality clinical services Southern Hills started nearly 50 years ago.”

LifeSpring Health Systems and Southern Hills Counseling Center, headquartered in Jasper, are both long-standing nonprofits that have served their communities for more than half a century. Together they provide behavioral health services to nearly 12,500 individuals annually.

These organizations have a long positive relationship working together for the provision of human services to children, youth, adults, and families in the Southern Indiana region.

“A merger with LifeSpring gives us a great opportunity to maintain the behavioral health services that we are currently providing and even to expand those services,” Joe Kimmel, current Executive Director of Southern Hills said. “We are excited to be joining LifeSpring and grateful for the opportunity to work with LifeSpring staff to develop a new our common vision for integrated health services in southern Indiana.”

Mr. Kimmel will retire following a merger transition period and LifeSpring CEO, Dr. Terry Stawar, will serve as CEO of the integrated organization.

The merged organization will serve as the state designated community mental health center in 11 counties: Clark, Crawford, Dubois, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Orange, Perry, Scott, Spencer, and Washington, and is headquartered in Jeffersonville.