The Bester community in Hagerstown, Maryland, can be a challenging place for families to raise children safely, with a high poverty rate, health challenges and a high rate of children removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
Those challenges haven't gone unnoticed, and in 2013 San Mar took the lead to reach out to key partners to form alliances to build a Community of Hope, a place where people share a vision of safety and success for every child who lives there. It's a place where public and private organizations, nonprofits, philanthropies, government, businesses and communities collaborate closely to help achieve that vision. As a result, children are safer, families are stronger and communities are more supportive places.
You May Also Consider (Sponsored)
Quick Start Online Therapy: Tell Us a Little About Yourself and Get Matched With a Therapist Right for You
Take a simple guided quiz and let us know your preferences. Get matched to an online therapist right for you. Convenient and affordable online therapy from your phone, tablet or computer.
Have you been in therapy before?
Services Offered
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Licensed as an Outpatient Mental Health Clinic San Mar's Jack E. Barr Center for Well- Being is serving the entire community. The Center offers care for diverse mental health needs and is committed to providing comprehensive evaluation and treatment for children, adolescents, families and adults in our community. Services are provided by a Board Certified Psychiatrist and licensed clinical professionals.
FAMILY SERVICES San Mar's Treatment Foster Care program exists to serve children and youth who have experienced trauma in their young lives by connecting them with safe and caring persons and families. In San Mar's Treatment Foster Care program, the positive aspects of the nurturing and therapeutic family environment are combined with active and appropriately structured treatment.
COMMUNITY SERVICES In 2013 San Mar took the lead to reach out to key partners to form alliances to build a Community of Hope, a place where people share a vision of safety and success for every child who lives there. It's a place where public and private organizations, nonprofits, philanthropies, government, businesses and communities collaborate closely to help achieve that vision…
Fees and Payment
SanMar is a nonprofit organization. we accepts donations for our services.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono Medicare Medicaid
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
Qualifying for assistance from Maryland's program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to Maryland's program.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
