The tireless efforts of concerned citizens, businessmen, school board members, clergy and social service agencies developed the Children’s Bureau of Sangamon County in 1925. This was the first “mental hygiene” program in central Illinois organized to keep children who were a bit “different” or “slow” out of asylums and jail basements. A social worker, a part-time psychologist and an out-of-town psychiatrist kept an office at St. John’s Hospital and did their best to assess the mental illness of children. After a few successful years, the project faltered due to insufficient funding. In July 1940, Springfield found itself, once again, without mental health services for children with emotional problems.

In 1947, the Community Fund (currently known as United Way of Central Illinois) formed a Mental Hygiene Committee, which later became the Mental Hygiene Society. In addition to working with children, the Society also provided health education programs to the community. As the community grew, so did the demands upon the small agency. Funding was always a matter of great concern so the Mental Hygiene Society turned to the donors of the Community Fund, personal donations and the State of Illinois for financial assistance.

Within just a few years, the organization realized that a new name would better describe the services available to children so in 1950 the clinic’s name was changed to Child Guidance Center. A year later, it moved from its original location inside St. John’s Hospital to more adequate offices on South Grand Avenue. The young agency was not able to stay at its new location for long because the psychiatric profession began to change its philosophy on treatment for adults. Before too long, the state legislature passed legislation granting new funding to provide community services for severely mentally ill adults. Within the year there was a new name, Mental Hygiene Society, and a new site of care.

Rapid and dramatic changes occurred in the state hospital system during the 1960s which brought about a substantial decline in the number of people residing in state institutions for the mentally ill and retarded. The patient population at Jacksonville State Hospital in 1960 was approximately 3,500. By May 1974 that patient population had dropped below 400. Community mental health centers were given the opportunity and the challenge of caring for people within the community through outpatient programs and residential care.

In 1981, the organization’s name was changed to Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois (MHCCI)and services were moved to the current location of 710 North Eighth Street. Services expanded to include a variety of programs for high-risk children and their families. A 24-hour emergency services program was developed and has grown into a premiere “Psychiatric Response Team” serving individuals at area hospitals throughout the region. Also in the early 1980s, MHCCI was asked by the Lincoln Developmental Center to provide day programming for its residents. As the number of clients increased we implemented a Regular Work Program and Work Adjustment/Evaluation services at what has become the Logan-Mason Rehabilitation Center.

Throughout the 1980s, the relationship between MHCCI and the state of Illinois expanded. We were able to increase the scope of our residential programs, day treatment programs and outpatient services for children and adults. By the early 1990s, the demand had outpaced our facilities. With the help of our state legislators, MHCCI took possession of a vacant treatment and residential center on West Lake Drive in Springfield. Within just a few years it approached capacity with vocational programs, exceptional long- and short-term residential programs, a crisis residential program and a psychosocial program that has nearly 100 individuals participating throughout  the day and evening.

In 1996, MHCCI became an affiliate of Memorial Health System. The following year Community Counseling Services (Morgan and Scott counties) and Logan-Mason Mental Health (Logan and Mason counties) merged with MHCCI. The affiliation and merger created one of the largest behavioral health systems in the state of Illinois. The Logan-Mason Rehabilitation Center had been accredited by CARF many times, and in 1998 the mental health programs were accredited for the first time.

Since the inception of MHCCI, service to children has been a primary goal. In 1999, the Memorial Medical Center Foundation funded an innovative program called the Child and Family Diagnostic Clinic. Today, this program is the core of a growing Children’s Center that is serving the families of our communities. Another program is a Juvenile Justice/Mental Health Initiative funded by the state of Illinois. The history of MHCCI will continue to be written as long as we continue to serve the courageous individuals who come to us for assistance.