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:: RESILIENCY 1980-1999 In July 1980, just after the 20th anniversary of the Center, the Bert Nash staff moved into new quarters, the renovated 1956 wing of Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Sandra Shaw, a clinical psychologist, was appointed director of the Center. During her tenure, the Center became a comprehensive mental health center as she sought to establish a strong local funding base. Early in 1981, the Reagan administration repealed the Mental Health Systems Act initiated during Carter’s presidency. In its place, the Reagan administration instituted the Block Grant Program. Under this new program, substantial control of funding for mental health programs was placed in the hands of the states. The Reagan policy of “new federalism” cut federal program support by as much as 25%, hoping that the states would pick up the slack. By the mid-1980s, the Center hired a community development director. The director began a series of educational activities intended to increase awareness of mental health issues and the services the Center offered. Additionally the development director began a series of fundraising activities to develop a pool of supporters and donors to sustain the work of the organization. In the late-1980s, the Center concentrated once again on expanding its services. The Community Support Services program was established. The program was designed to maximize independent living in the community for adults with severe and persistent mental health problems. |
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