G14 - Better Together: Building Partnerships in a Rural Community

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM MDT

Location: Bluebird 2A

Follow Ardmore Behavioral Health Collaborative’s 10-year journey from idea to impact in southern Oklahoma. Learn practical strategies for building multi-sector partnerships, overcoming common obstacles, and leveraging funding opportunities like CCBHCs to create lasting change in your community. Discover how to forge unexpected alliances across business, healthcare, education, government, and faith sectors to address complex rural challenges.

Learning Objectives:

Identify key strategies for multi-sector partnership development-Participants will be able to outline practical steps for building collaborative partnerships across sectors including business, healthcare, education, government, and more in rural settings.
Apply lessons learned from common obstacles and pivots-Participants will be able to recognize potential challenges and implement adaptive strategies based on real-world solutions developed over a 10-year collaborative journey.
Evaluate funding and sustainability models for community collaboratives - Participants will be able to assess how CCBHCs and other resources can be leveraged to ensure long-term viability of community partnerships.

Disclosure(s):

Ellen Roberts: No financial relationships to disclose

Kaylyn Weldon Gary, MA, LPC-S: No financial relationships to disclose

Breakout Presenter(s)

Ellen Roberts

Director of Ardmore Behavioral Health Collaborative
Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Slides
Kaylyn Weldon Gary, MA, LPC-S

Executive Director
Community Youth Services of Southern Oklahoma
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
JP

Jessica Pfau, JD

CEO
Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Disclosure information not submitted.