History & Milestones
South Lane Mental Health is deeply rooted in the Cottage Grove community, with a rich history of caring and concern. In the winter of 1987, a mentally ill homeless woman moved into the First Presbyterian Church in Cottage Grove. Because there were no community mental health or housing resources available, church members allowed her to stay. However, she became paranoid and psychotic and was admitted to a Portland-area psychiatric facility for treatment.
Social workers recommended a residential placement for the woman upon her release, but there was no housing for persons with psychiatric disabilities in Cottage Grove.
In response, the First Presbyterian Church formed a committee to determine whether a local mental health service could be created in Cottage Grove. A community board of directors was formed and began the process of incorporating as a private non-profit.
The next year, the organization, first called “Bohemia Residential Community”, began providing residential services to five people in a house donated by the local Cottage Grove Woodard family, and members of the Presbyterian Church.
We have since grown from 5 employees assisting 50 people annually to a staff of 89 helping approximately 1,400 South Lane County area adults and children each year and have become the region’s largest comprehensive mental health services provider.
1987 | Mentally ill homeless woman takes up residence at First Presbyterian Church |
1988 | Bohemia Residential Community (BRC) founded |
1991 | BRC becomes a qualified Medicaid provider |
1992 | · Agency name changed to South Lane Mental Health · First full-time executive director hired |
1994 | South Lane Mental Health awarded funds to help patients from state hospitals transition to living in the community |
1995 | · Moved to offices on North Ninth Street and begin offering outpatient services · Hired the first medically qualified individual in South Lane County with a specialty in managing psychiatric medications |
1997 | South Lane Mental Health contracts with Lane County to provide mental health services to individuals covered by the Oregon Health Plan |
2004 | Begin providing services to children through relationships with Head Start, South Lane Family Relief Nursery, and South Lane School District |
2008 | In partnership with South Lane Mental Health, the City of Cottage Grove wins a Community Development Block Grant to purchase and renovate a new community mental health facility at 1345 Birch Ave. in Cottage Grove |
2009 | South Lane Mental Health hosts the Town & Country Garden Tour, a community outreach effort |
2010 | · Move from rented quarters to a permanent home at 1345 Birch Ave. · South Lane Mental Health becomes a United Way agency |
2011 | · Purchase and renovate the former Community Health Education Center building at 1245 Birch Ave. · Become certified to provide Intensive Community-based Treatment Services (ICTS) for children and their families |
2012 | In collaboration with United Way of Lane County and the 100% Access Coalition, South Lane Mental Health provided administrative oversight of a community health worker pilot project |
2014 | · Chosen as one of five Lane County non-profit organizations to receive funds from The Great Rotary Duck Race · Hosted final year of the Town & Country Garden Tour |
2015 | Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month |
2017 | Launched a Recovery Services program for adolescents, and for adults with substance use disorder diagnoses as well as chronic pain |
2020 | · Began Supported Employment Services program · Began ALAS program, to serve the Latinx and Guatemalan population in South Lane County · Implemented Telehealth Services to provide virtual therapy sessions to ensure safety of our clients and staff due to the Covid-19 pandemic · Successfully maintained open operation with no breaks in service during the COVID 19 pandemic · Implemented a new Electronic Health Records System · Prioritized Equity and Inclusion by activating a committee to pinpoint and address needs and developed a policy statement around this issue. · Implemented Neurofeedback therapy · Contracted with an additional health insurance provider, Providence Health Plan |
2021 | · Installed an emergency generator to ensure continuity of care for our clients · Client Intake paperwork now available electronically via our website · Successfully maintained open operation with no breaks in service during the COVID 19 pandemic |
2022 | · Expanded Case Management Services · Hired our first female Executive Director · Successfully maintained open operation with no breaks in service during the COVID 19 pandemic |
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