Based in the Tri-Cities and in operation for more than 65 years, Frontier Health is the region’s leading provider of behavioral health services, offering 65 facilities in 12 counties across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
“Frontier teams have continued to strengthen the foundation of care and compassion that defines our mission: to provide trauma-focused, quality services that empower individuals to achieve their full potential,” Frontier Health President and CEO Kristie Hammonds, who has led the organization since 2019, told the Business Journal. “Our shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and resilience has driven meaningful progress for those we serve and for the teams who make our work possible.”
She believes the heart of Frontier Health’s success is its employees, specifically their compassion, professionalism and dedication which have led to a year marked by renewed energy and growth.
“By intentionally nurturing a supportive, trauma-informed workplace culture, staff turnover has been significantly reduced, and we earned Silver Status with Better Workplace Tennessee—recognition of our commitment to creating an environment where every team member feels valued, understood and empowered,” Hammonds explained. “At a time when workforce challenges dominate healthcare conversations, investing in people has proven both the right thing to do and a sound organizational strategy.”
Frontier Health’s main focus is its comprehensive children and youth services. The company employs more than 40 master’s-level therapists dedicated exclusively to working with children from infancy through adolescence.
Their continuum of care includes nationally recognized, evidence-based treatment models such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The Regional Intervention Program (RIP) also offers a parent-led, peer-supported approach for families of young children facing significant behavioral challenges.
All Frontier’s clinic-based Children and Youth therapists are trained in at least one evidence-based best practice model, which leadership believes ensures high-quality, trauma-responsive care. Services span psychiatric assessments, outpatient counseling, intensive in-home case management and adolescent substance use treatment through their Johnson City-based Adventure Program.
“This depth of expertise allows us to intervene early, strengthen families and improve long-term outcomes,” Hammonds said.
Beyond their clinics, Frontier Health has in recent years expanded access through school-based mental health services. More than 80 trained professionals are now embedded in nearly every school system across the Appalachian Highlands, while their team partners closely with educators to address student mental health needs where children already spend their days.
“These professionals provide crisis assessments, brief therapy, family engagement and consultation for school personnel, helping create healthier and more supportive learning environments,” Hammonds added.
In three school systems, specialized substance misuse prevention programs are supported by Opioid Abatement funding, strengthening early intervention efforts for at-risk youth.
Frontier believes that innovation remains a cornerstone of its approach. Last year, the organization says they reimagined how individuals access care by simplifying entry points and “intentionally meeting people where they are.”
A pilot initiative focused on improving access and engagement resulted in an 87% increase in patient engagement, serving as a reminder that when systems listen, adapt and remove barriers, people respond.
“Frontier Health remains steadfast in our vision to be a trusted leader in trauma-informed, compassionate care,” Hammonds said. “Through continued innovation, partnership, and collaboration, we will nurture recovery, realize potential, and ensure every individual we serve is met with dignity, respect, and hope.”
