Why I’m Writing This
I’ve spent most of my professional life helping businesses build trust and credibility. That work often involves cleaning up the damage when people misuse influence, violate ethics, or try to hide behind a polished brand. What’s happening in Southern Ohio right now goes beyond bad press. It’s a systemic failure inside an organization meant to serve vulnerable people. That demands attention.
The Counseling Center, formally known as Scioto County Counseling Center, Inc. (SCCC), is a behavioral health provider operating in Portsmouth and the surrounding region. On the surface, it looks like any other nonprofit treatment facility. Behind the scenes, it has quietly unraveled.
In 2018, something serious happened inside the organization. That event, and how leadership handled it, raised questions that remain unanswered. Public complaints have now been filed, and the full story is beginning to emerge.
The Incident That Was Never Reported
According to a complaint filed with the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (OHMHAS) on March 23, 2024, three licensed staff members—Melinda Haaf-Albrecht, Adam Jenkins, and Anthony Jones—were abruptly terminated after being discovered in what the complaint describes as a concealed, significant incident. The individuals responsible for those terminations were CEO Andrew Albrecht, Founder Ed Hughes, and CFO/COO Aaron Wagner, all licensed professionals themselves at the time.
The event was never reported to OHMHAS or to any certifying body. There is no record of an internal review. No disciplinary report. No explanation.
This is not an administrative oversight. Under Ohio law, licensed caregivers and their employers are required to report any incidents involving harm, use of force, inappropriate relationships, or actions that result in termination. None of those procedures were followed.
From Internal Firing to Legal Settlement
One year after the terminations, in July 2019, Melinda Haaf-Albrecht filed for divorce from Andrew Albrecht. The filing, submitted in Scioto County under case number 19DR000330, drew further attention to the situation inside the facility.
By 2023, knowledge of the incident was widespread among staff. According to the complaint, legal representatives for Haaf-Albrecht contacted SCCC with demands for compensation. Multiple sources state that a financial settlement of approximately $90,000 was reached to prevent disclosure of the 2018 incident. There is no indication this payout was ever reported in public filings.
Questions remain about where those funds originated, how they were classified in the organization’s financial records, and whether donor or taxpayer dollars were used.
A Leaked Memo, Declining Services, and Growing Distrust
Around the same time, a leaked internal memo written by COO Aaron Wagner was obtained and published by Scioto County Daily News. The memo described operational instability, financial shortfalls, and service cuts throughout the organization.
Other reports began to circulate—programs quietly shut down, employees leaving without replacement, and longstanding community partnerships going silent. Despite these signs of distress, no formal statement was issued by SCCC leadership.
The complaint suggests that public trust in the organization has eroded, and that current leadership is neither transparent nor accountable to the people they claim to serve.
Timeline Summary
- Late 2018 – Incident involving three licensed caregivers occurs inside SCCC. All three are terminated.
- July 2019 – Melinda Haaf-Albrecht files for divorce from CEO Andrew Albrecht.
- 2023 – Legal threats emerge. Confidential settlement of up to $90,000 is allegedly paid.
- 2024 – Formal complaint submitted to OHMHAS. Internal memo leaks to local media.
Failure to Report and Breach of Public Duty
Every licensed caregiver and facility operator in Ohio is legally obligated to report incidents that compromise patient care or safety. These reports are not optional. They exist to protect patients, employees, and the public from concealed misconduct.
The complaint alleges that SCCC leadership, including Ed Hughes, Andrew Albrecht, and Aaron Wagner, knowingly suppressed the 2018 incident and failed to initiate any form of state-mandated disclosure.
There are also allegations that Joint Commission disclosures were falsified or incomplete. If accurate, this could have allowed the facility to maintain accreditation under false pretenses.
What the Community Deserves to Know
This is not a personal attack. It is a request for accountability from a taxpayer-supported, state-certified institution entrusted with the care of vulnerable individuals.
Families who choose a rehab facility trust that the leadership is acting in the best interests of patients. They trust that complaints will be addressed. That violations will be reported. And that no one is above oversight—no matter their title.
To date, no public explanation has been offered by SCCC. No corrective action plan has been shared. No comment has been issued by Ed Hughes or others named in the complaint.
What You Can Do
Anyone can file a complaint with OHMHAS. You do not have to be a current employee or patient. Complaints can be submitted anonymously and are protected under public whistleblower laws.
- Email: IncidentReport@mha.ohio.gov
- Download the official complaint form: mha.ohio.gov