Entergy officials present check to new MCHS campus

Special to the Mississippi Link

from Entergy Mississippi

Recently Entergy Mississippi, Inc., officials visited Mississippi Children’s Home Services to present a $12,500 contribution to the organization’s Capital Cam-paign for expansion of services and tour the new 21-acre Jean Austin Bagley Campus.

“We’re proud to help this organization that does so much to help Mississippi’s youth,” said Haley Fisackerly, president and chief executive officer for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “At Entergy Mississippi, we work hard to make our state a better place for everyone and we’re glad to help Mississippi Children’s Home Services in their efforts to improve the lives of abused and neglected children.”

Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS) is devoted to nurturing children and youth with bruised pasts. Entergy Mississippi’s generous donation will enable the agency to provide much needed services to youth who will receive services on the new Jean Austin Bagley Campus located on the corner of North West Street and Woodrow Wilson Avenue. The new campus will serve an additional 60 youth in the two-story William Louis Albritton Arts and Education Building and provide residential care for 30 youth in three ten-bed cottages. Construction of the new facilities will be complete in October of this year.

After presenting the check to MCHS, Entergy officials toured the new campus, currently under construction. MCHS Chief Executive Officer Chris Cherney explained to the group the need to serve many more youth who have been victims of physical and emotional abuse and ones that have severe behavioral and educational challenges that prevent them from attending a local school or remaining at home.

Mississippi statistics show that the state’s prevalence of serious emotional disturbance in children and adolescents ages 9 to 17 is between 11 and 13 percent. That’s between 42,394 to 50,102 children. With a combined 298 licensed, Certificate of Need (CON) Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility approved beds in Mississippi increasing the number of licensed beds is essential in meeting the need for mental health services in Mississippi’s youngest population.

“As the only Mississippi not-for-profit Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility and only Mississippi-based corporation providing services for emotionally troubled children through our unique continuum of care,” said Chris Cherney, Chief Executive Officer for MCHS, “we are continuing our commitment to serve Mississippi children in need by creating safe, quality environments staffed by highly trained professionals.” Cherney added, “Our children are the true benefactors of Entergy Mississippi’s generosity. We are so thankful that they bestowed our youth with a gift that will impact their future success and help them overcome hurdles they face on their road to healing and developing positive life experiences.”

For more information on the new Jean Austin Bagley Campus or Mississippi Children’s Home Services, call 601-709-1252 or visit www.mchscares.org.