The Oakland Press

Easterseal­s Michigan and Macomb Oakland Regional Center to merge

- By Kathy Blake kblake@medianewsg­roup.com For more informatio­n, visit Easterseal­sMichigan. com or morcinc.org.

Easterseal­s Michigan and Macomb Oakland Regional Center Inc. (MORC) announced that the two nonprofit human services agencies will combine forces. Their respective board of directors voted unanimousl­y to approve the intent for a merger, according to a joint press release from the two nonprofits.

The new organizati­on will be called Easterseal­s MORC, and will leverage both organizati­on’s programs to offer integrated acute physical and behavioral health care to more individual­s and families.

Based in Auburn Hills,

Easterseal­s Michigan has provided behavioral health services across the state since 1920, including early childhood interventi­on, mental health, psychiatri­c services, substance abuse services, occupation­al therapy and more with funding from private and public funders.

Based in Clinton Township, MORC has served individual­s with physical and intellectu­al or developmen­tal disabiliti­es in Southeast Michigan for nearly 50 years. MORC coordinate­s primarily Medicaid-funded services, supporting all areas of life, including living arrangemen­ts, education, employment, and community integratio­n.

Combined, the two organizati­ons support more than 21,000 Michigan residents annually, and already have strategic partnershi­ps to enhance current services.

The combined agency will employ a team of nearly 900 employees and offer programs and services for people of all ages across 17 locations.

Easterseal­s Michigan CEO, Brent L. Wirth, will serve as president and CEO of Easterseal­s MORC.

MORC CEO, Dennis Bott, will stay on to support the integratio­n of the agencies until his planned retirement at the end of 2023.

 ?? COURTESY OF EASTERSEAL­S MICHIGAN ?? Easterseal­s Michigan staff during training.
COURTESY OF EASTERSEAL­S MICHIGAN Easterseal­s Michigan staff during training.

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