Burrell, Forest merger approved by accrediting commission

The Higher Learning Commission has granted final approval to the merger of the School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute and Burrell Behavioral Health.

The boards of directors of the two nonprofits approved the decision in January. Under the terms of the agreement, Forest becomes a subsidiary of Burrell, according to a news release.

"This is a new day for Forest, and for the education and training of tomorrow's behavioral health care practitioners," Forest President and CEO Dr. Mark Skrade said in the release. "This merger is a catalyst for a greater integration of science and practice, providing opportunities for interprofessional training and for the meaningful education, training and practice at the interface of behavioral health and primary care in the state and throughout the region."

As part of the merger, Burrell assumes Forest's $2 million debt load, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

Burrell comprises a staff of nearly 900, operating from 27 sites, mostly clinics, in a 17-county service area in southwest and central Missouri. It provides clinical, educational and consultative services to about 30,000 clients annually. Forest is an accredited not-for-profit independent graduate school with a staff of 56 and nearly 300 masters and doctoral students training to be psychologists, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and applied behavior analysts. In January, Skrade said the school posted a positive operating cash flow of $144,731 in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2012, after posting revenue of $7.2 million in fiscal 2011 with expenses of $7.1 million.

"An area I am most hopeful that Burrell will be able to contribute to is the lead position Forest has already taken in training mental health professionals to address behavioral health concerns among patients with medical or developmental conditions. This is a critical workforce development need," Burrell President and CEO Todd Schaible said in the release.