COMCARE of Sedgwick County (originally called the Mental
Health Clinic and later Department of Mental Health) was established in 1962.
At that time, the program was carried out in the Health Department and under
the administration of the Director of Health. The Clinic was established
primarily to treat patients released from Larned State Hospital, which was the
institution that covered Sedgwick County at that time. Others were seen in
treatment, but the main focus was on individuals who were indigent and had a
mental illness. The original psychiatric team included a psychiatrist, a
psychologist, and a social worker.
In 1969, the Clinic had grown by several more staff and
the housing for the program at the Health Department was no longer adequate.
The program was then moved to a building that had been part of the Sedgwick
County Hospital. The goal of the Clinic continued to be the follow-up of
consumers released from Larned, although by this time, with the enlargement of
staff, many non-state hospital patients also made up the caseload. However,
waiting lists continued to grow as the community became more aware of
available mental health services that operated with a sliding fee scale and
would accept welfare recipients at a zero fee, as these services preceded
Medicaid.
In 1972, funding was made available through three
federal
grants, which would enlarge the Mental Health Clinic to two Comprehensive
Mental Health Centers. This meant the five basic elements of service would
have to be provided at two specific sites; the federal government would not
allow one Center to cover a population in excess of 200,000. The grants
included two staffing and one construction grant and greatly increased the
services of the Department that now had a mandate under federal regulations to
provide Inpatient, Outpatient, Partial Hospitalization, Emergency Services and
Consultation and Education. The original site was enlarged with a Federal
Construction Grant and came to be known as "North Mental Health Center," and
the "South Mental Health Center" was developed in one of the buildings on a
campus of a grade school in South Wichita. The enlargement of the mental
health services resulted in a name change from "Mental Health Clinic" to
"Department of Mental Health."
Programs added during the 1970s were: an Alcohol
Treatment Center, a comprehensive Drug Treatment Program, Evaluation Unit for
probate-petitioned patients requiring involuntary hospitalization and a
Juvenile Court Clinic. Programs added in the early 1980s included a
Residential Treatment Program and a full array of forensic programs that
assisted not only the Juvenile and Probate Courts, but also the Criminal
Division of the 18th Judicial District.
When federal funding came to an end in 1980, the
Department of Mental Health consolidated their services, as they were no
longer required to maintain two Centers with duplicate services. The
consolidation of services provided lower administrative costs and provided
greater benefits to the consumers. Outpatient Services for adults was still
maintained at the North and South Mental Health Centers, but the partial
hospital program was consolidated at the North Center location.
In 1981, Sedgwick County Commissioners passed a resolution
eliminating the responsibility of the Board of Health and established a
15-member Governing Board, all of who were appointed by the County
Commissioners. Legislation passed in 1986 allowed the County
Commissioners of Sedgwick County and Johnson County to establish themselves as
the Governing Board. The Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners chose to exercise this
option and established themselves as the governing board; the current board then
became an advisory board. At this time, the Department of Mental Health had
grown to approximately 135 staff.
In 1985, Women's Alcoholism Treatment Services was
designed to meet the specific needs of women suffering from or affected by
alcoholism, drug addiction, or related problems.
In 1990, the Mental Health Reform Act became law in
Kansas. This massive, historic bill designated community mental health
centers as the community gatekeeper, mandated screening activities and
required specific services to be provided to targeted populations, adults with
a severe and persistent mental illness, and children with severe emotional
disturbances. The focus was to bring consumers from the state hospital back
to the community and to divert consumers from having to enter the state
hospital. To do this, an array of services were provided to enable persons
with a mental illness to recover. Case managers were hired to assist the
consumers through their transition to community-based living and other
services were enhanced to support their needs, such as prescription and
management of psychotropic medication, education, 24-hour emergency services,
and assistance in securing employment and housing. July 1, 1992 ushered in
the implementation of a number of new community-based services. A fully
staffed crisis unit with 24-hour face-to-face capability was initiated. The
Family and Children Community Services began and co-located with the Social
and Rehabilitation Services Family Preservation Unit. The Children's Program
was responsible for providing newly developed wrap-around services to divert
children with severe emotional disturbances from the state hospital and assist
those in the hospital to re-enter the community. New children's services
available included case management, in-home therapy, in-school therapy,
attendant and respite care.
Mental Health Reform for adults began July 1993. In
response, the Community Support Services program was formed and moved to a new
location. Services offered to adults with a severe and persistent mental
illness were clinical services, case management, psychosocial program, and
respite services. The Residential Treatment Program was closed in 1993. More
permanent independent housing options were being offered, using case managers
and rent subsidies, as well as other housing options available to low income
and disabled persons in the community.
During the 1990s, the Department was successful in
securing two large federal grants. In 1993, the Homeless Program, which began
in 1988 housed in the core area of Wichita at the Episcopal Social Services'
Venture House, secured a five-year federal grant known as ACCESS that added 16
staff positions. The target population was homeless individuals who have a
severe and persistent mental illness. The Homeless Program, also known as
Center City, was able to move into a facility in midtown.
The Family and Children Community Services, established
in July 1992, grew from 15 staff to 30 in 1994 after receipt of a five-year
federal grant to provide a broad array of mental health services. These
services were
community-based and family-centered and tailored to meet the needs of the
child/adolescent through an individualized service plan. A number of other
services were developed or expanded through contractual arrangements with
community providers.
Topeka State Hospital closure plans were debated
throughout 1996 and the year ended with a well-thought-out plan. The plan
resulted in additional resources for adults and children, which allowed them
to remain in their home communities. The closing of the Topeka State Hospital
took place in 1997 and relocated COMCARE's state hospital catchment area to
the Osawatomie State Hospital.
Today,
COMCARE of Sedgwick County has approximately 400 employees. It administers
approximately 100 contracts and provides a wide array of services. The focus
continues to be on the recovery of those served and meeting the community's
needs. In 1998, due to Sedgwick County's reorganization, COMCARE Community
Mental Health Center (CMHC) became a department in the Division of Human
Services. This Division also included COMCARE Community Developmental
Disability Organization (CDDO), Department on Aging, and
Department of Corrections.
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