Coastal Horizons recently announced that Matthew Mitchell, assistant director of outpatient treatment, has been selected as a Jim Bernstein Community Health Leadership Fellow by the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI).

According to a news release, the Bernstein Fellows Program is a two-year initiative designed to cultivate rising leaders dedicated to improving health outcomes in North Carolina’s rural and underserved communities.

As part of the fellowship, Mitchell will work on a personal project. His proposed project will focus on developing middle-level leaders in community mental health and substance use treatment "a vital area of need across North Carolina," the release stated "His work will help build the next generation of leaders equipped to address complex behavioral health challenges in rural and underserved settings."

Margaret Weller-Stargell, president and CEO of Coastal Horizons, stated in the release, “Matt’s commitment to serving vulnerable populations is matched only by his passion for building strong teams and developing the professionals who deliver life-changing care. We are incredibly proud of this well-deserved recognition and excited to support Matt in this important work.”

Coastal Horizons, which serves over 15,000 individuals annually across 58 North Carolina counties, provides mental health, crisis intervention, primary care, substance use treatment, child welfare and veteran services.