Scott
Aspire Indiana Health President & CEO Barbara Scott, whose 36-year legacy saw the healthcare nonprofit grow from a small behavioral health company to a major regional provider of fully integrated healthcare services, has announced her intention to retire.
Scott plans to serve through the end of the current fiscal year, June 2023, which will allow for the development of the nonprofit’s next three-year strategic plan. During that time, she will support the Aspire Board of Directors as they work with The Meyers Group in search for a new chief executive.
Scott, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, began working for Aspire in 1986 as a van driver while in social work school. Her first post-master’s position was as an outpatient clinician in the Elwood clinic. She served in various roles as a mental health provider and administrator before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 1997 and to President & CEO in 2017.
“It’s time,” Scott said. “It has been my honor to serve at Aspire Indiana Health my entire career. It has been amazing to be part of its expansion over the decades. In my early days as a new COO, we had an employee base of under 100. Today, we have over 750 FTEs. We’ve gone from serving one county to five core counties with specialty services extending throughout the state. We have 55 facilities including outpatient, residential treatment, group homes, apartment complexes and single-family consumer housing. We started as a community mental health center but have evolved into one of the most innovative healthcare agencies in Indiana that fully integrates primary care, behavioral health and social services.”
Scott continued, “While I am proud to have been a small piece of this comprehensive health service we call ‘Whole Health,’ I am most proud of being part of an organization that has a mission to serve individuals with the most complex needs and health inequities. For this, I will forever be grateful for such a wonderful opportunity to serve. I know I’m passing the baton at a time when Aspire is poised for even more growth and success.”
As CEO, Scott has served on numerous state boards and committees, including Gov. Eric Holcomb’s first Behavioral Health Commission which has just published its recommendations, the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Center’s board of directors and public policy committee and the Indiana Primary Health Care Association board of directors and public policy committee.
“Another honor I have been given has been to work with advocates and policy makers on issues facing our vulnerable Hoosiers,” Scott said. “The passion and talent that is focused on improving the health of Hoosiers is so evident among our city and county officials, our state legislators, our members of Congress, our FSSA administration, and our leaders within the FQHC and CMHC industries here in Indiana. I know the work will continue and good things will continue to happen. As Aspire’s mission states, ‘Together… we make health and well-being a reality.’”
About Aspire
Aspire Indiana Health is a fully integrated nonprofit health system serving central Indiana that addresses behavioral health, primary medical care, substance use disorders, infectious diseases, deaf services, veteran programs, abused/neglected children and social drivers of health such as housing and employment. Aspire is supported by a strong network of community organizations, state/federal entities and generous benefactors. Those interested in partnering with Aspire in making health and well-being a reality in central Indiana are encouraged to email info@aspireindiana.org.