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A nonprofit behavioral health provider is bringing free addiction treatment options to eight more counties in southwest Oklahoma, expanding access for people who cannot afford traditional rehab.
What’s Happening
Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers, a south-central Oklahoma nonprofit, will take over the Jim Taliaferro Community Mental Health Center in October, according to Lighthouse CEO Jessica Pfau.
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health awarded Lighthouse responsibility for Comanche, Cotton, Stephens, Jefferson, Tillman, Jackson, and Harmon counties, along with parts of Caddo County.
“We have been awarded those 8 counties by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health, and we are honored that they are giving us that responsibility,” Pfau said. “It’s a huge task. But we are up for it and ready to get it.”
Who Qualifies for Free or Low-Cost Treatment
Lighthouse is a designated Community Mental Health Center, a model built around serving people regardless of their ability to pay.
In its current service area, Lighthouse offers outpatient care, care coordination, addiction recovery services, and 24/7 crisis care, all staffed by mental health professionals, and operates on a sliding fee scale alongside Medicaid and Medicare acceptance.
Pfau says the organization plans to bring similar services to southwest Oklahoma based on what each community needs.
Pfau describes Lighthouse’s approach as whole-person care rather than treating addiction or mental health in isolation.
“We’ll help them find a job,” Pfau said. “We’ll help them to find stable homes. We will help them with their finances. Whatever it needs, whatever the person needs, we’re there to help. So that’s our whole person care.”
How to Access These Resources
Lighthouse has served its current region since the 1950s. Pfau shared the story of one client from Paul’s Valley who came to an outpatient clinic after the loss of his wife and years of suicidal thoughts, and who is now, in her words, thriving.
Clients currently receiving care at the Jim Taliaferro Community Mental Health Center should not expect interruptions or immediate changes to services during the October transition. Lighthouse says it will work closely with local partners to keep the handoff seamless.
Finding Affordable Treatment in Oklahoma
For people in southwest Oklahoma who need addiction or mental health support, a few steps can help:
- Ask whether your county is now covered by Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers, since coverage is expanding through October
- Check whether you qualify for Medicaid insurance, Medicare, or sliding-scale fees before assuming treatment is out of reach
- Contact the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for other free and low-cost regional options
- Call SAMHSA’s national helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for immediate, confidential referrals anywhere in the country
Rehabs.org lists low-cost and free treatment options nationwide. Call
800-914-7089
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to find affordable care near you.
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