Jacobs Named Pawnee Mental Health Director

Everett "Jake" Jacobs assumed the position of executive director of Pawnee Mental Health Services on May 1.

"We're pleased to welcome "Jake" Jacobs to Pawnee," said Terri Wahle, Junction City, president of Pawnee's Board of Directors. "We are confident that he will guide Pawnee well in meeting our mission to serve the mental health needs of adults, children, and families in an environment of change in funding, regulations, and practice," Wahle said.

"Behavioral health care is growing and altering rapidly," said Jacobs. "This agency has an important mission to fulfill - the provision of services to those in need. I look forward to pursuing this mission along with Pawnee's excellent staff of over 260 clinical, administrative, and support staff employees. I'm also eager to maintain the strong relationship with other health and helping agencies in the communities Pawnee serves."

Jacobs is located in Manhattan at the agency's administrative office at 423 Houston Street. He leads the center's staff of over 100 clinical professionals and additional administrative and support staff personnel. Pawnee has over 260 employees at clinical division locations in Manhattan, Concordia, and Junction City and satellite offices in seven additional communities. The center provides mental health and substance abuse services each year to over 8,000 individuals living in ten counties and has an annual revenue of approximately $9 million.

Jacobs comes to Pawnee from Tri-County Mental Health Services in North Kansas City, Missouri, where he had been employed as chief operating officer since 1996. Tri-County serves Clay, Platte, and Ray Counties in the Kansas City, Missouri, metropolitan area.

Jacobs' responsibilities at Tri-county included managing fiscal services, contracts for clinical services, human resources, quality improvement, medical records, public relations, support services, development, and fundraising. His 25 years of experience with non-profit organizations includes positions as vice president of finance and operations for Kansas City Hospice, Inc., and assistant administrator for the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Family Court Division. Jacobs holds a masters degree in public administration and a bachelors degree in business administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Jacobs was a member of several boards including Community Network for Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., Niles Home for Children, and Northland Diversity Council. He was also affiliated with the Missouri Coalition of Community Mental Health Centers, Department of Mental Health Regional Planning Committee, and KC/Northland Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Tina, have three adult daughters and three grandchildren living in the Kansas City area.

Pawnee Mental Health Services is a community mental health center providing professional, comprehensive, and affordable mental health and substance abuse treatment to people in ten counties in north central Kansas.