Kent Center, Riverwood Mental Health Services to unite in spring

MERGER DISCUSSIONS between The Kent Center in Warwick and Riverwood Mental Health Services in Warren have begun and are expected to be completed by March 31, according to an announcement made by the organizations Tuesday.
MERGER DISCUSSIONS between The Kent Center in Warwick and Riverwood Mental Health Services in Warren have begun and are expected to be completed by March 31, according to an announcement made by the organizations Tuesday.

Merger discussions between The Kent Center in Warwick and Riverwood Mental Health Services in Warren have begun and are expected to be completed by March 31, according to an announcement made by the organizations Tuesday.

The decision to join forces was approved by both organizations’ boards of directors in December. Once completed, Riverwood will operate as a division of The Kent Center for Human and Organizational Development.

David S. Lauterbach, president & CEO of The Kent Center, said he was excited by the opportunity to merge with a company whose compatibility, he said, “is quite striking.”

There is currently a combined employment force of 272 people at Riverwood and The Kent Center. Lauterbach said he does not expect there to be any personnel cuts once the merger is complete.

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The combined efforts of the two organizations will expand to include all of Kent County, Providence and East Bay.

Both nonprofit, behavioral mental health organizations are focused on recovery and care services.

According to the statement announcing the merger discussions, together they hope to create “a new system of integrated behavioral and physical health care” for its patients who include veterans, the homeless and those who have experienced the criminal justice system.

Founded in 1976, The Kent Center employs 200 people with an operating budget of $15 million. Riverwood Mental Health Services, founded in 1970, has 72 employees and has an operating budget of $6.2 million.

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