Agency
Profile/HistoryAgency
Profile/History
Newaygo County Mental Health (NCMH) was first established in 1972. This was a time of dramatic change. In the past persons who have a development disabilities or mental illness were put in state institutions, never to see family or dream of a life and home. In the 1960’s a movement began called deinstitutionalization. It’s a very big word that means people living in state institutions would be released to the community, if there was a local mental health center to provide counseling, foster care, medications, and regular monitoring. Mental health agencies began to spring up all over the state of Michigan.
Over the years many new services, medications, and funding have increased this agency’s success in keeping persons out of the state institutions. A person who has a development disability has not been admitted from Newaygo County to a state institution in more than 10 years. Persons who have a mental illness are admitted only if there are no community hospitals available, and they stay only for a few weeks, not years, as in the past. The State of Michigan now has very few state institutional beds left at Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital and Caro Psychiatric Hospital. The State of Michigan does have criminal psychiatric inpatient facilities in Ypsilanti and does use Kalamazoo and Caro Psychiatric Hospitals.
Other Achievements over the Years
In 1978 Newaygo County Mental Health became the first center in Michigan to be accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. For the past 6+ years Newaygo County Mental Health has been accredited by CARF (Council for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities).
When the center began in 1972, there were two staff members. Today it has 80+ staff, all working toward making Newaygo County a healthier community.
The center is a non-profit agency, run by a board of 12 citizens who are appointed by the Newaygo County Board of Commissioners. Of the12, there are at least 4 consumers of mental health services.
Funding comes mostly from Medicaid, State of Michigan General Fund, Newaygo County funds, and grants from The Fremont Area Community Foundation.
The agency provides over 30 different services and serves residents of Newaygo County as young as newborns to older “senior” citizens. Of the services provided, many clinical staff are trained to provide evidence-based or promising practices as defined on the SAMSHA (Substance Abuse, Mental Health Services Administration) website. See more on our web page about our services.
NCMH continues to grow because of the strong support of our community. We are here to serve.
8/10/11