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Description

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Growing to Meet New Needs
Oaklawn offers a broad range of mental health and addictions treatment services for children adolescents adults and seniors Our philosophy has always been to offer a continuum of services which allows for treatment in the manner that is least disruptive to a persons life

At Oaklawn we believe in treating the whole person mind body and spirit

Vision
To help people live in harmony with self others and God through healing and growth of the whole person

Mission
With uncommon expertise in mental health and addictions services Oaklawn joins with individuals families and our community on the journey toward health and wholeness

Values
As part of a faithbased organization the people of Oaklawn are committed to
Compassion

Integrity

Human Dignity

Professional Expertise

Community Partnerships

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History

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Although services were provided from a temporary location in Elkhart beginning in July 1962 Oaklawns doors formally opened on February 11 1963 This brought to reality a vision which had begun nine years earlier when representatives of the Mennonite Central Committee constituency in Ohio Indiana Illinois and Michigan met and agreed on the need for more Christian and professional care in the field of mental health Oaklawn is one of eight Mennonite mental health centers

Throughout Oaklawns history the organization has been guided by this emphasis on quality care and treatment of the whole personpromoting wellness of mind body and spirit Oaklawns vision to help people live in harmony with self others and God through healing and growth of the whole person expresses this commitment

Mennonites Amish and Brethren in Christ were represented on Oaklawns first board of directors appointed in 1958 The board expanded in 1959 to include community representatives and again in 1961 to include a member from the Church of the Brethren Robert Hartzler first chairperson of the board became the first administrator in 1961 Otto D Klassen MD joined the organization in July 1962 as medical director

Initially Oaklawns programs were twopronged outpatient services and day treatment Oaklawn focused on services for those who could return home in the evenings and on weekends From this grew the community home programoften involving church familiesin which area residents opened their homes to clients who lived too far away or who needed a different home environment for their treatment

Two other early developments which involved the community were the Oaklawn Auxiliary and Oaklawn Foundation for Mental Health Since 1965 the Auxiliary comprising both church and community members has assisted with a wide variety of tasks including both clerical work as well as working with patients Oaklawn Foundation for Mental Health was incorporated in 1965 to provide assistance for patients who could not afford to pay for their care Currently it assists with materials and activities for Oaklawn programs and with funding special projects for the organization

In the late 1960s Oaklawn took a major step in serving the community by applying for federal funds under the Community Mental Health Centers Act In 1973 Oaklawn Community Mental Health Center was incorporated and began receiving funds to provide mental health care on an abilitytopay basis for persons who live in Elkhart County

Another major step for Oaklawn began in 1983 when strategic planning led to establishing a psychiatric hospital An assessment of area services revealed a need for more inpatient beds for psychiatric care Oaklawn Hospital opened in July 1987 as a 78bed inpatient facility for adults adolescents and children helping to meet that need This facility located at 330 Lakeview Drive Goshen also houses Oaklawns corporate offices

In September 2010 Oaklawn was designated by the State of Indiana as the community mental health center for St Joseph County outpatient services When Oaklawn assumed these services as well as two buildings in South Bend more than 200 new staff and thousands of new clients were added to the organization

Over the years Oaklawn has changed and adapted its mix of services to meet the needs of the community and of payers Consequently many inpatient beds have been converted to residential beds for adolescents and children Oaklawn now offers a comprehensive range of psychiatric and addictions services for children adolescents adults and seniors

Under the direction of president Laurie N Nafziger and medical director Daniel L Kinsey MD Oaklawn offers a full range of mental health and addictions treatment services This includes individual family and marital therapy addictions treatment pastoral counseling intensive outpatient programs inpatient programs for adults and seniors residential programs for all ages and community support services for those with longterm mental illness In addition Oaklawn sponsors a variety of educational programs for both personal and professional development and growth

Oaklawn is sponsored by Mennonite Health Services Alliance which is accountable to Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Brethren and Brethren in Christ churches From the beginning however Oaklawns board and staff were committed to serving the broader community With a staff of approximately 700 Oaklawn works to provide quality services to meet the need for mental health and addictions services in the Michiana area