A Timeline of Important Dates in the History of Meridian Health Services
Fifth Decade
2019
- Madison County Community Health Center merges into Meridian
- Meridian acquires IUH-BMH pediatric building
- Purchase of new Richmond facility
- Opened 16 bed addiction residential center (ARC) at River Bend Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana
- Meridian introduces dental servicesFirst Meridian Employee Wellness FairSpeaker Series featuring Sam Quinones and Ryan Leaf
2018
- Former U.S. Congressman, Patrick Kennedy, is the recipient of the First National Spirit of Meridian Award
- Meridian enters into agreement with NCHS to manage River Bend Hospital
- Meridian partners with North Central Health Services (NCHS) to manage River Bend Psychiatric Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana
2017
- Meridian receives two Decision Health Platinum awards for Integration and Children Services.
- Meridian enters into agreement with NCHS to manage River Bend Hospital.
- Meridian opens Convenience Care, an urgent care center in Jay County Hospital.
- Meridian Addictions Recovery & Treatment opens in Richmond.
- Meridian introduces addictions Maternal Treatment Program.
- Meridian receives 340B certification for Drug Pricing Program.
Fourth Decade
2016
- MeridianMD opens clinic in New Castle.
- Meridian recognized as Tobacco Free Initiative site.
- Meridian opens offices in Ft. Wayne, Kokomo, and Anderson.
- Meridian Health Pediatrics selected by Riley Children’s Foundation and DMHA as an Autism Early Evaluation Hub site.
2015
- Meridian partners with IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and Riley Hospital introducing “whole-person healthcare” at Meridian Health Pediatrics.
- Walnut Commons, supported independent living apartments, opens.
- Meridian receive FQHC approval to establish primary care in Dunkirk and New Castle.
2014
- Connersville office opens
- Meridian chosen to participate in SAMHSA innovation community
- Meridian now provides pediatric rehabilitation services
- FQHC status for Women’s Center, Richmond, and Pediatrics
2013
- Meridian receives full FQHC 330 status at Rushville site
2012
- Meridian Services changes its name to Meridian Health Services
- Meridian is first CMHC in Indiana to receive FQHC “Look-A-Like” status
- Dr. Sarfraz Khan, VP/Medical Director, named to “Top Docs” in Muncie
- Partnership established with Wernle Family Services
- Meridian’s sixth supervised group home opens in Richmond
- Purchased/Renovated Winchester Office
2011
- Family Health Services, a Community Health Center in Rushville, Indiana, merges into Meridian
- Reaccreditation from the Joint Commission for Hospital and Behavioral Health Care
- Partnership with Benchmark Family Services expands children’s services throughout Indiana
- Dedication of the “Listening Tree” at Child Advocacy Center
- Meridian Services receives “Chairman’s Award” from the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce
2010
- MeridianMD, Indiana’s first behavioral health organization offering primary care services, is introduced
- Rialzo!, a gala benefit dinner is introduced
- Child Advocacy Center receives full accreditation
- Meridian Services receives “Heroes in the Fight” Treatment Team state award by Eli Lilly and Mental Health America
- Meridian Services and Dr. Khan, Medical Director, nominated as finalists for community “Healthcare Hero” Awards
- Terri Helbling, Meridian Nurse Practitioner, won the Indiana “Professional of the Year” award by the National Alliance on Mental Illness
2009-2010
- Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program for substance abusers is opened at Gresham Center.
- Charles V. Sursa is appointed by Board of Meridian Services to serve as its first chairman in the establishment of a Fund Development Committee.
- MeridianMD, Indiana’s first behavioral health organization offering primary care services, is introduced
- Rialzo!, a gala benefit dinner is introduced featuring the 5th Dimension
- Child Advocacy Center receives full national accreditation
- Meridian Services receives “Heroes in the Fight” Treatment Team state award by Eli Lilly and Mental Health America
- Meridian Services and Dr. Khan, Medical Director, nominated as finalists for community “Healthcare Hero” Awards
2007-2008
- Suzanne Gresham Center, a treatment center dedicated to children and families opens.
- A Child Advocacy Center for child abuse investigations located at The Suzanne Gresham Center is established.
- Meridian becomes a Licensed Child Placement Agency (LCPA) and places its first foster children.
- Meridian is certified as a Developmental Disability provider by the Division of Disability, Aging and Rehabilitation.
- Crisis Assistance program begins services in 20 counties in Central Indiana.
- Meridian opens its psychiatric hospital.
- Ford House, Meridian’s fifth supervised group home, opens.
2005-2006
- CMHS became Meridian Services on October 12, 2005
- Meridian Services celebrated 30th anniversary featuring Brooke Shields
- Meridian receives $50,000 in foundation awards to establish a Child Advocacy Center from the Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, George & Frances Ball Foundation and the Ball Brothers Foundation.
Third Decade
2003-2004
- Healing Through Art (HTA) project developed in partnership with ArtWorks to raise community awareness of child abuse and neglect issues
- Endowment Funds created at Community Foundations in Delaware, Jay and Henry counties to support CMHS
- Revised partnership agreement with Ball Memorial Hospital developed to provide acute inpatient care
- CMHS services extended to Wayne and Randolph counties
- Market research project begun with the Regenstreif Center for Healthcare Engineering at Purdue University
- Awarded re-accreditation by the JCAHO
2002-2003
- Choices, a program for drug and alcohol addiction, established vital link between CMHS and the Jay County court system
- First CMHS Human Resources Department established
- First clinical software system implemented
2001-2002
- Dr. Suzanne Gresham retired as President and CEO
- Mr. Hank A. Milius became President and CEO
- Awarded re-accreditation by JCAHO
- Behavioral Health Center, an outpatient psychiatry practice run jointly with Ball Memorial Hospital, opened
- Staff increased to meet growing needs, including addition of three psychiatrists
2000-2001
- Celebrated 25th anniversary
- CMHS professional and support staff of more than 230 served more than 5,000 individuals in Delaware, Henry, and Jay counties
1999-2000
- Jay County facility remodeled and expanded
- CARF re-accreditation awarded to Comprehensive Employment Services
- Awarded re-accreditation by JCAHO
1998-1999
- Served more than 2,500 individuals in Delaware, Henry, and Jay counties
- Medical staff expanded to eight psychiatrists; first clinical nurse specialist joined staff
1997-1998
- Drop-In Center, which provided homeless individuals with a neutral, non-threatening place to receive help and link with services, added a new program — Jenny’s Cupboard — to provide kitchen supplies to individuals who were setting up households with the assistance of CMHS
- Anxiety Disorders Screening Day initiated
- Outreach mental health services provided at Open Door/BMH Health Center in Muncie
- Speaker’s Bureau established to provide community groups with programs on a variety of mental health issues
- Core Adventure Program (CAP), a ten-week adventure-based counseling program for youth with serious family or legal problems, offered in Henry County
- Began publication of newsletter, CMHS Connections
1996-1997
- Awarded Accreditation with Commendation by JCAHO, recognizing CMHS’s exemplary performance in meeting JCAHO national standards for mental health and substance abuse organizations
- Ellison House opened to provide new sub-acute stabilization program, offering short-term community-based acute care for adults who would otherwise be hospitalized
- Eber House group home program relocated to larger facility to provide residential services for more individuals
- CMHS Celebrated 20th anniversary
Second Decade
1994-1995
- Henry County services moved into newly constructed 14,500- square-foot facility
- Adventure Based Counseling program for adolescents begun in Henry County
- Anger control program initiated in Delaware County
- Addiction and CSP programs expanded in Jay County
1993-1994
- Goodall Apartments completed, providing 20 units of long-term housing for persons with severe disabilities
- School-based programs for seriously emotionally disturbed children established in Jay County
- ADHD program for children, youth, and families initiated in Delaware County
- Supported Employment Program awarded CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) certification
- Awarded re-accreditation by JCAHO
- Awarded prestigious Public Service Award from the Social Security Administration for outreach efforts to the disabled
1992-1993
- Division of Mental Health renewed emphasis on shift to community-based care from institutional care
- Medicaid Rehabilitation Option allowed significant expansion of case management services
1991-1992
- Tillotson Avenue facility, which comprised 38,000 square feet of space to house programs from the five previously established Delaware County program sites and allow for future expansion, opened in January
- Family Preservation Program counseling services initiated
- Supported Employment Program established
1990-1991
- Henry County and Jay County adult Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) for substance abuse initiated
- Adolescent IOP established in Delaware County
- Specialized program for “dually diagnosed” (severely mentally ill and chemically dependent) begun in Delaware County
1989-1990
- Theraputic foster care program – Alternative Families (AF) – expanded to provide intensive home-based services to children and families
- Gillbeke Apartments opened, providing 20 units of long-term housing for persons with severe disabilities
- Division of Addiction Services granted approved for expansion of addictions outpatient and outreach services
- Awarded re-accrediation by JCAHO
1988-1989
- Homeless Project and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs initiated
- Logan House, a third adult group home, opened in Muncie
- Community Support Program (CPS) opened in Henry County
- Indiana General Assembly approved funding to build a centralized facility for Delaware County CMHS
- Jay County services moved into newly renovated facility
1987-1988
- Henry County services moved to new facilities in Henry County Hospital
- Specialized therapeutic foster care program for severely emotionally disturbed children initiated, in partnership with the Division of Family and Children Services
- Full accreditation awarded by the Division of Addiction Services
1986-1987
- Residential Services to meet needs of individuals with long-term mental illness added with the opening of Lewis House in Delaware County and Teaboldt House in Henry County
- Expansion of Semi-Independent Living Program (SILP)
- Accreditation received from JCAHO (Joint Committee on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)
First Decade
1984-1985
- New cooperative relationship formed with IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for inpatient care
- Plan for residential services developed
- Group therapy services expanded through a variety of specialized groups
1983-1984
- Community Support Program (CSP), encompassing Aftercare and Day Treatment programs, initiated
- Community Services efforts expanded through CMHS educational programs, public awareness projects, and task force participation
1982-1983
- Public awareness projects to inform about and advocate for community-based mental health services launched
- High service demand taxed CMHS staff
- New facilities opened in Muncie and Henry County
1981-1982
- Core program components fully operational
- Community outreach efforts accelerate
1980-1981
- “Children’s Team” formed to provide services to children and teens
- Outreach Office opened in Dunkirk in Jay County
- Satellite facility established at Open Door Community Services in Delaware County
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for substance abuse begun in Delaware County
1978-1979
- Consultation & Education, Employee Assistance, and Epilepsy Services programs established
- Addiction Services staffing increased to meet priority needs
- Aftercare Services expanded
- Dr. Suzanne Gresham, Ph.D., became Executive Director
1976-1977
- Comprehensive Mental Health Services of Northeast Indiana, Inc., programs initiated on
January 1 - Outpatient service sites set up in Muncie, Portland, and New Castle
- Inpatient services offered at Ball Memorial Hospital
- Day Treatment Services initiated in Muncie
- 24-hour Emergency Services begun
