Integrity Partners, South Central to form New York’s largest rural behavioral health network

(607NewsNow) — Integrity Partners for Behavioral Health IPA (Integrity Partners) and the South Central Behavioral Health Network (South Central) have announced a merger.

The merger will allow both networks to combine as equal owners and will unite two of New York State’s leading rural behavioral health alliances under the name Integrity Partners for Behavioral Health IPA.

The merged network includes 46 behavioral health providers, 22 from Integrity Partners and 24 from South Central, serving more than 100,000 clients across rural New York. Supported by Integrity’s advanced statewide analytics infrastructure and data warehouse, the combined system will integrate data from 150,000 individuals. The merger also brings together primary care, behavioral health, and social service organizations, expanding integrated care across a wide range of communities.

Together, the newly unified entity becomes one of the most comprehensive rural behavioral health networks in New York State. It will serve 34 rural counties, representing 77% of all rural counties statewide, creating a coordinated infrastructure for communities that have historically operated without shared analytics or unified care pathways. The merger also aligns the capabilities of Integrity Partners, South Central, and the Capital Behavioral Health Network IPA, producing a powerful, consolidated analytics platform for rural behavioral health.

Map of coverage as a result of the merger, courtesy of Integrity Partners for Behavioral Health IPA.

“By merging these two strong networks, we are creating New York’s most comprehensive rural behavioral health network. This merger combines community-based wisdom with advanced data analytics to ensure rural New Yorkers receive the best possible care and representation in state policymaking,” said Steven J. Harvey, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Integrity Partners for Behavioral Health IPA.

At the center of the merger is Integrity’s secure, HIPAA-compliant data warehouse, developed in partnership with the University at Buffalo (UB). The platform integrates clinical, claims, diagnostic, and social determinants of health data, giving rural providers access to tools such as predictive modeling, responsive dashboards, and unified data streams, capabilities that were previously unavailable to many agencies. This system will support earlier intervention, more coordinated care, and improved outcomes across diverse rural populations.

“This merger brings real strength to communities that too often operate with limited resources. The combination of local expertise, shared infrastructure, and statewide data capabilities will transform how behavioral health is delivered across our rural counties,” said Lisa W. Hoeschele, Board President of SCBHN and Executive Director and CEO of Family & Children’s Counseling Services.

“This merger elevates the voices of rural communities and strengthens our ability to deliver coordinated, high-quality behavioral health care statewide,” added Lynda Battaglia, LCSW, Board President of IPBH and Director of Mental Health & Community Services for Genesee County.

For more information, visit www.integritypartnersbh.org.