How do we measure the value of Bowen Center to the Community? Is it measured by the 8,930 individuals whose lives were touched in some way by the services we delivered? Can it be estimated by counting the 492 Bowen Center staff who have chosen community mental health as a career? What does it mean that we have been asked to open offices in eight counties and will soon be providing mental health services of one sort or another in twenty-five locations?
An independent auditing firm recently did an analysis comparing Bowen Center to the rest of the thirty mental health centers in the state on a series of factors. What does it mean that Bowen Center ranks within the top three to seven centers on many factors? What does it mean that Bowen Center grew 9 percent this past year, when the average mental health center in the state had 0 percent growth? Can our value be judged by the proliferation of new clinical programs and attraction of staff who have unique skills and expertise? Can our value be indicated by the 40,000 students covered by the Student Assistance Programs and the 18,760 covered lives served by our Employee Assistance Programs? Can our value be measured by the $1,583,444 of charity care and fee reduction? What does the community express about Bowen Center when we ask for letters of support for a grant application and get immediate and positive responses from legislators, judges, local elected officials, physician groups, public agencies, and hand-written letters of support from Dr. Otis Bowen himself?
There is obviously no one measure to gauge our importance to the community, how much our services are valued or our success as a business. Bowen Center staff are doing many wonderful things for the community for which we can all share pride and a sense of accomplishment.
Kurt Carlson
President and CEO