
Our History

our history
COMTREA was founded to meet the mental health needs of Jefferson County residents. What started as a men's halfway house has evolved into a health center offering primary care, dental care, mental health, psychiatry, and substance use treatment. Additionally, COMTREA provides community services including a children's advocacy center, school liaison services, domestic violence shelter, and canine therapy program.
Change is inevitable to meet the needs of our community, but our mission will never waiver.

1970's
- Judge John Anderson, W.H.S. (Stu) O'Brien, a public defender, and Melvin G. Williams, the District Supervisor of State Probation and Parole discussed creating a not-for-profit corporation that would build a halfway house.
- Articles of Incorporation were approved and the Corporation were created.
- Stephen F. Huss, was selected as Executive Director.
- Community Treatment Incorporated was shortened to COMTREA.
- Selected an old meat-packing building in Festus for the site of the proposed halfway house.
- Disastrous fire gutted the building. The community rallied to re-establish the agency.
- Missouri Department of Mental Health designated COMTREA as the Community Mental Health Center for Jefferson County.
- One of the first agencies in Missouri to be certified by the Department of Mental Health (DMH).

1980's
- Secured passage of a marriage and divorce fee for support of abuse victims in Jefferson County and began a jail counseling program.
- Became the ninth in the state to be certified by the Missouri Department of Mental Health for psychiatric services.
- Received passage of the $.10 tax, which guaranteed $800,000+ per year for mental health services to the county.
- COMTREA Board appointed by the County Commission as the Community Mental Health Fund Board.
- Provided counseling for dioxin and flood victims in the Times Beach area.
- Purchased property near Athena/De Soto for the residential program mandated by the DADA.


1990's
- Secured passage of Children First legislation to assist divorcing parents with children.
- Helped establish the Behavioral Health Response crisis program.
- Opened Keaton Center, a 24-hour, fully-staffed 16 bed residential care facility.
- La Jade Theater was donated to COMTREA.
- COMTREA’s A Safe Place domestic violence shelter opened.

2000's
- Treatment Family Homes for children with chemical abuse problems opened in De Soto.
- Children’s Advocacy Center for forensic sexual abuse created in De Soto and Sullivan to serve nine counties.
- Received national accreditation by the Council on Accreditation for all programs.
- Divorce mediation services begin.
- Participated on a committee that developed a Jefferson County Drug Court.
- Implemented school liaisons, professional counselors in each public school in Jefferson County.
- Secured passage of a 1/8 cent sales tax for children services in Jefferson County.
- Received the National Behavioral Health Care Award for community collaboration.
- Seeley Building was built.

2010-2015
- Opened Susan Nuckols Residential Treatment Center in partnership with the Juvenile Office and County Council.
- Purchased Bridle Ridge Acres and offered equine therapy.
- Dental care offered at Valley Middle School, the first school-based health center for COMTREA.
- Hickory Plaza opened with primary care and dental care.
- Received Federally Qualified Health Center certification.
- Dental care provided at Fox schools within school-based health center.

2016-NOW
- Susan Curfman became the second President and CEO of COMTREA.
- Opened MAP mobile dental clinic.
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Organization pilot program began for the State of Missouri.
- Mary's House of Hope at A Safe Place capital campaign launched to build transitional housing for domestic violence survivors.
- Welcome Center opened to offer walk-in behavioral health services.
- COMTREA Health Center - Dunklin opened at Senn-Thomas Middle School to provide dental care and mental health services.
- COMTREA Health Center - Festus opened at Festus High School to provide Psychiatry and mental health services.

Read the complete article of COMTREA's history