Familiar Face rebuilding Mid-Columbia Center for Living

Al Barton was recently selected to head the Mid-Columbia Center for Living. Barton was the interim in that position after Dr. June Gower resigned a year ago.

From Mid-Columbia Center for Living with edits and additions by Tom Peterson:

The Tri-County Mental Health Board proudly welcomes Al Barton as its new Executive Director of Mid-Columbia Center for Living or MCCFL.

Center for Living provides services for mental health, addictions, intellectual and developmental and crisis issues. It is a government-owned and operated agency with a board of directors made up of County Commissioners from Wasco, Sherman and Hood River counties.

Barton became the acting Interim Director for Center for Living when Dr. June Gower tendered her resignation about a year ago.

Her tenure of less than two years was marked by financial challenges, union organization and substantial loss of employees.

“I feel super fortunate,” said Barton on Friday, July 29. “There is plenty to do, and it’s a good time to be doing it.”
The Center for Living is down about 25 percent on staffing to this day, but state and federal funding levels are at an all-time high for the health provider, Barton said.

Center for Living “is a very different place than in the past couple of years ago,” Barton said. “It’s been very tough, and these amazing people stuck it out,” he said of the staff.

“MCCFL has been through so many challenges over the last two years – a pandemic, serious financial risks, leadership departures and huge staffing needs, Barton said. “We have stabilized with crucial support from community partners and Wasco County, the Oregon Health Authority, and our two Coordinated Care  Organizations (PacificSource and Eastern OR). With the help of the amazing professionals who remain, we are re-building a great place to work that helps keep our community well. Here we go! ” 

Mr.  Barton has deep expertise in the services offered at Mid-Columbia Center for Living, having previously served as the Deputy Director at MCCFL. Mr. Barton’s extensive experience, combined with a  deep passion for improving mental health across our community, will help to further advance the mission of the organization.

“Behavioral health is a critical need in our community and this agency provides so many unique safety net services,” Baron said. “I’m honored the MCCFL Board and our staff encouraged me to support them as a leader.”

Mr. Barton received a Master of Science with a focus on Agency Counseling from The University of  Arkansas and is an Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor and Counselor Supervisor and a  certified Mental Health Examiner, Investigator and Protective Service Investigator.

He began his career at MCCFL in 2008 as a Clinical Supervisor before moving to a Clinical Services Manager with MCCFL in  2009. Prior to accepting the Executive Director position, Mr. Barton served as the agency’s Deputy  Director for five years and has been acting as the Interim Executive Director since July 2021.  

Mr. Barton has spent most of his adult life providing mental health services to his community. Before joining MCCFL, Mr. Barton held the Executive Director position and Director of Needs Assessment and  Outpatient Services at Piney Ridge Center, a psychiatric residential health facility in Fayetteville,  Arkansas. He has worked in correctional, developmental disabilities and residential settings.  

Mr. Barton lives in the Hood River with his wife as an “empty nester” with 3 grown children living in  Oregon. He enjoys all the outdoor activities available in the Gorge including Nordic, backcountry and alpine skiing in winter, and hiking, camping and biking in all seasons. Weekends usually find him volunteering as a Mt. Hood Ski Patroller in winter and Bike Patroller in summer.  

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MCFLVision: Empower people to make positive changes in their lives