Matt Loehr, Phd LSCSW, has spent a decade and a half working in Wyandotte County. Now he is spending that time as RSI’s Executive Director.
In his position, Loehr leads a staff of 50 who provide 24/7 care to people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Established in 2014, RSI belongs to Wyandot’s network of organizations. It has become the state’s leading crisis stabilization center, working with area hospitals, law enforcement, and other community partners to make sure people in crisis receive timely care and treatment. Its service area includes Wyandotte, Johnson, Douglas, and Leavenworth counties.
“I’m very impressed with our staff and their commitment to their work,” Loehr said. “I see a genuine concern and compassion for our clients and their families. Most important, they bring a great deal of experience and skill to the task of helping people get through a crisis and then connecting them with community-based services.”
Loehr started with RSI earlier this year, having spent more than 30 years in clinical and administrative positions in the behavioral health field. He attended Benedictine College where he graduated with two Bachelor’s degrees in Criminology and Political Science. He later received a Master in Social Work from the University of Kansas and a PhD in Family Studies from Kansas State University.
“We’re very fortunate to have someone with Matt’s training and experience leading RSI,” Wyandot BHN President and CEO Randy Callstrom said. “His clinical and administrative backgrounds are a tremendous asset.”
Loehr’s work in recent years has focused on addressing the needs of homeless individuals who have a mental illness or struggle with substance use. That experience has underscored the need to address not only mental health needs for clients at RSI, but to recognize that one’s mental health depends on addressing basic needs such as housing, employment, and food. One resource he would like to add to RSI is a food and clothing pantry so clients can have immediate access to those resources as soon as they leave the facility.
“I’m really looking forward to building on RSI’s success,” Loehr said, “and am very proud to be a part of an organization whose staff are so passionate about serving their community.”
Loehr is married with five children ranging in age from 19 to 31 and four grandchildren.