Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska offers its Behavioral Health Services program in this building at 1808 S. Eddy St. in Grand Island. (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska is closing its longtime Behavioral Health Services program that serves people with mental illnesses, with some services ending April 24.
“After careful consideration and with a heavy heart, we have made the difficult business decision to close our Behavioral Health Services. These services include Day Rehabilitation, Day Support, Community Support, Emergency Community Support and SOAR,” according to a March 16 letter from Tamara Snider, Vice President for Mission Services for Goodwill.
Services will be closed in two phases, according to the letter. Day Rehabilitation and Day Support will close April 24. Emergency Community Support, Community Support, and SOAR will close June 30.
Services are offered in a building at 1808 S. Eddy St., just south of Goodwill’s main building that houses services including administrative offices and the Developmental Disability Services program.
The Behavioral Health Services building includes small and large meeting rooms, office space, a dining room, and a kitchen.
Audrey DeFrank, Director of Marketing and Development, said March 31 that a news release will be issued April 6 or April 7. She declined further comment. Goodwill CEO Curtiss Dill is out of the office until next week.
According to Goodwill’s website, Behavioral Health Day Rehabilitation Services were started in 1989.
“The decision was not made lightly. For years, Goodwill has been privileged to serve Grand Island and surrounding areas through these vital programs,” the letter said. “We are saddened to take this step, but current circumstances have made it necessary for the organization to focus our resources and efforts in other areas.”
“Our top priority during this transition is to ensure that all individuals currently receiving services are supported and connected to appropriate care,” the letter said. “We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible.”
“While our Behavioral Health Services will be closing, Goodwill remains committed to supporting the well-being and success of our community and will continue to offer Supported Employment and Benefits Planning Services, helping individuals achieve their goals and improve their quality of life,” the letter said.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to have made a positive impact together and remain dedicated to serving the community in meaningful ways,” Snider concludes in her letter.
Behavioral Health Services program offers three programs: day services, community support, and emergency community support, according to Goodwill’s website.
“Programs are available for individuals experiencing a developmental disability, mental health condition, substance use disorder, mental illness, acquired brain injury or face barriers such as poverty or involvement in the legal system,” according to Goodwill’s website.
“Behavioral Health Services provides support to individuals in the recovery process, helping them to create a recovery plan, embrace hope, receive mental and physical healthcare, build skills, and successfully live in their communities,” the website said.
This is Goodwill’s definition of Day Services:
“Goodwill supports individuals living with a mental illness or substance use disorder through the recovery process. Day Services helps create a recovery plan, fosters hope, connects individuals with providers for mental and physical healthcare, and promotes independence, personal choice, and relationships to build a life worth living,” the Goodwill website said.
Goodwill assists with transportation to and from services, medical appointments, and grocery shopping. A breakfast, snack and lunch are available for the program, which meets in the morning Monday through Friday.
Goodwill assisted 660 people in FY 2024-25 with Behavioral Health Services, according to the website.
This is the definition of Community Support Services on Goodwill’s website:
“Community Support Services assist individuals facing barriers to support the recovery process and live successfully in the community. Programs are individualized and strength-based to provide support, advocacy, and understanding throughout the individual’s path to recovery,” the website said.
The program provides services including one-on-one support through caseworkers.
This is the definition of Emergency Community Support on Goodwill’s website:
“Emergency Community Support Services assist individuals experiencing, or at risk of, a mental health crisis. Individuals are led through the stabilization process to live successfully in the community. Programs are individualized and strength-based to provide support, advocacy, and understanding throughout the individual’s path to recovery,” the website said.
One program offered in this area is a mental health hotline, which is staffed by Goodwill Behavioral Health Services employees.
Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska also offers other programs. It has a Developmental Disability Services program, including Day Services, Employment Services, and Residential Services, according to its website. Developmental Disabilities Services helped 167 people in FY 2024-2025.
According to Goodwill’s website, in the Day Services program for Developmental Disabilities, skills are taught including:
- gross motor skills, including grasping, stacking, or transferring items.
- fine motor skills, including picking up small objects, holding small items, or using a keyboard.
- attention to task.
- improving physical abilities, such as sitting in a chair or standing for an extended period of time to complete a task.
- following one to two-step instructions.
- general social skills or self-help skills.
Goodwill offers Employment Services for the Developmental Disabilities program. This includes small group vocational support, and individual and follow-along supported employment.
Also, Goodwill provides Residential Services for the Developmental Disabilities program. “Services offer continuous habilitative teaching to an individual in a private home with an independent contractor, teaching the individual skills related to living independently and community integration,” the website said.
Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska got its start in Grand Island when it opened a retail store at Fourth and Pine Streets in 1966, according to Goodwill’s website. The organization changed its name from Central Nebraska Goodwill Industries to Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska in 2002. Goodwill serves 55 counties in Central and Western Nebraska, according to its website.
Goodwill’s mission is: “Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska, Inc., is dedicated to helping people with disabilities or barriers reach their goals and improve their quality of life.”
