Bowen Health celebrates new location in Kokomo

Dec 11

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Bowen Health officially celebrated its new health clinic in Kokomo, offering mental health care, psychiatric services, substance use counseling, and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for substance use.

The new clinic at 2312 S Dixon Rd., Suite 250, serves everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

“We believe that it won't take long for you to see what the Bowen difference is,” said Dr. Rob Ryan, Bowen Health President and CEO. “Number one is relational. When you come here, we want to know you by name when you walk in the door. And then there is convenience. Just because you may live in a rural community doesn’t mean you have to forgo the care you need because it’s only available in a larger city. We are so thankful to be part of the Howard County family.”

Collaborations with Howard County organizations have been an important part of guiding the new clinic and the services it provides.

“We've been looking at Kokomo and Howard County for years as an area that's been underserved and has really needed additional mental health services,” said Jay Baumgartner, Bowen Health CFO. “So, for the 60,000 or so residents of Kokomo, 85,000 or so in Howard, we're here for you.”

“It's the beginning of a new chapter for us,” said Lori Augustus, Bowen Health Executive Director. “It's the opportunity for us to collaborate with the community here, to foster partnerships, and continue the journey that Howard County and Kokomo are already on towards health and well-being.”

Because of limited availability, Ms. Augustus said that, unfortunately, mental health is a luxury for many.

“It's so important because it is the foundation of strong and healthy lives, not just for families and individuals, but also for communities. We are committed to providing comprehensive and evidence-based care to everyone.”

Bowen Health has formed partnerships with area agencies like the Kokomo Rescue Mission to connect their patients and agency clients with services and resources.

“It's truly been just a blessing to connect with Bowen Health,” said Betsy Hart of the Kokomo Rescue Mission. “Bowen has just really been coming alongside of us and making it very easy for our clients to access help. They experience so many challenges and barriers in their everyday life that, a lot of times, the step toward receiving mental health services can be incredibly difficult. When you're working with people who are literally trying to piece their lives together, those little things are life-changing.”

“We have a lot of people who tell themselves this story: ‘I'm not good enough’,” said Matthew Riggle, Practice Administrator at Bowen Health Kokomo. “And yet we see people who start to step out of their comfort zone and do things that they never believed they could do and start to change that story and tell themselves that they are good enough.”

“It is so encouraging to be welcomed this way into this community,” said Bowen Health COO Shannon Hannon. “I remember sitting with other leaders in this room, dreaming about this day, talking about where we needed to go next, because that's what drives Bowen: Need in the community. And it really came down to how do we not bring these services to a community that is telling us they need more of what we're doing? When we open the doors, it's not just about hanging a shingle and putting up a sign. It's about opening the doors to better health for families and the entire community, and that's what we're celebrating today.”