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Home : About
Us : History
Although services were provided from a temporary location in Elkhart
beginning in July, 1962, Oaklawn’s 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 Oaklawn’s history, the organization has been guided
by this emphasis on quality care and treatment of the whole person—promoting
wellness of mind, body, and spirit. Oaklawn’s 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 Oaklawn’s
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, M.D., joined the organization in July 1962
as medical director.
Initially Oaklawn’s programs were two-pronged: 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 program—often involving church families—in
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 ability-to-pay 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 78-bed inpatient
facility for adults, adolescents, and children, helping to meet
that need.
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 adults, adolescents and
children.
In addition to the original outpatient facility at 2600 Oakland
Avenue in Elkhart and the inpatient/residential facility at 330
Lakeview Drive in Goshen, Oaklawn also has outpatient offices at
101 Marilyn Avenue in Goshen.
Under the direction of president
Laurie N. Nafziger
and medical director
Daniel L. Kinsey, M.D., Oaklawn offers a full range of mental health
and addictions treatment services. This includes individual, family,
and marital therapy; addictions treatment; pastoral counseling;
partial hospital programs; residential programs for all ages; and
community support services for those with long-term 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, Oaklawn’s board and
staff were committed to serving the broader community. With a staff
of more than 550, Oaklawn works to provide quality services to meet
the need for mental health and addictions services in the Michiana
area.
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