“Mental health is the adjustment of human beings to the world and to each other with the maximum of effectiveness and happiness. Not just efficiency or contentment – or the grace of obeying the rules of the game cheerfully. It is all of these together. It is the ability to maintain an even temper, an alert intelligence, socially considerate behavior, and happy disposition. This, I think, is a healthy mind.” Author unknown
The Guidance Center, Inc. is the result of 80 years of effort in Atchison, Leavenworth and Jefferson counties. The 43 clients served during the first three years of existence compares to the approximately 5,000 clients served annually by Center staff today.
Among community mental health centers, it is one of the oldest in the state of Kansas. Originating in Atchison in1938 as the Child Guidance Clinic, the center at that time held “clinic” one day a month during the school year for Atchison children who were referred by teachers or family members with problems such as behavioral issues, difficult interpersonal relationships, or truancy.
At that time, funding came from the Red Cross chapter in Atchison, with a location provided in Central Grade School, and donation of clerical time and a welfare worker by the local welfare office. The county medical society contributed free examinations. Parochial schools also lent support. At this time, the Guidance Center was the only community mental health center in the State of Kansas supported entirely by community funds.
A mental health association was established in Leavenworth in 1958, in response to nationwide changes in mental health care, the clinic joined forces with Leavenworth County and became a two-county center in 1964. A community mental health center was created, providing outpatient therapy and psychiatry services to individuals from Atchison and Leavenworth Counties regardless of the ability to pay. Funding was provided by mil levies in Leavenworth and Atchison Counties. Ten years later in 1975, a third clinic was opened in Jefferson County in the city of Oskaloosa.
In 1991, the Kansas Legislature enacted several laws which changed the way local community mental centers operated. At that time, community mental health centers were legally designated to manage public community mental health care in Kansas. By 1998, 600 Kansas state hospital beds were closed, leaving The Guidance Center with the responsibility for providing programs and services for Atchison, Jefferson and Leavenworth County residents who might otherwise have been confined to those institutions.
As a result, children with severe emotional disturbances are now able to live with their own families in their own community, and adults with serious mental illness are able to remain in contact with their established community supports, actively participating in social and recreational activities experiencing the joy of living or working independently. As a 501 c 3 private-not-for profit agency, we can effectively and efficiently meet the needs of our clients and community.
Today, the Center has outpatient clinics in the cities of Atchison, Leavenworth and Oskaloosa, as well as school based clinics in Ozawkie and Atchison. In May 2004, the J. David Kaaz Memorial Campus was opened in Leavenworth following a strongly supported capital campaign where $2.4 million dollars was raised. The Center also enjoys new state of the art facility in Atchison at our 201 Main Street location. Our facility in Oskaloosa was built in 1988 and has remained home to our outpatient services since that time. We currently have plans to add to our facilities in Oskaloosa to meet the ever growing demand for services.
The Center is supported from patient fees, health insurance payments, county mil levies, State aid, State and Federal grants and contracts, and other income sources. The Center is licensed as a community health center by the State of Kansas to provide both mental health and addiction services. The Board of Directors, made up of twelve community volunteers, oversees the administration of the center.
From a paid staff of one in 1938, the Center today has a staff of over 130 individuals, including an executive director, a medical director, finance director, human resource director, and numerous psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, case managers, accounting and administrative assistants, transportation staff, and more.
Services include intake services, medication management, psychological evaluations, individual, family and group therapies. Our emergency and hospital screening services are available 24/7 365 days a year. In addition, services to our adults and youth with more serious illnesses include case management, psychosocial services, attendant care, respite care, family and parent support, vocational training, housing assistance, and dual diagnosis treatment. To ensure our clients receive timely care we also provide transportation services to and from our psychosocial group programs.
