History

The Oaklawn Auxiliary and the Oaklawn Foundation for Mental Health were established. Volunteers and donors stepped up to support our services, and have become vitally important resources in fulfilling our mission and expanding care throughout our community.

Strategic planning and zoning began for Oaklawn Hospital, an inpatient facility built to help those who need more intensive services.

Oaklawn’s hospital opened its doors with 78 beds serving children, adolescents and adults needing inpatient services. Today, Oaklawn’s 16-bed inpatient unit Cedars continues to serve adults, and the Goshen campus houses many departments.

Oaklawn completes its first Capital Campaign, raising $3.75 million, resulting in the building of the Harold C. Loewen Education Center, an adolescent group home and an endowment of over $1.5 million.

Oaklawn became the state-designated community mental health center for St. Joseph County. We assumed services, two buildings, more than 200 new staff members and thousands of clients.

The Children’s Campus in Mishawaka joined the Oaklawn organization. Now, Oaklawn’s residential program operates at the Mishawaka campus, providing intensive treatment programs for youth throughout the state of Indiana.

Oaklawn pursues status as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, or CCBHC, a new federal designation holding community mental health centers to a higher standard.