| 1796-1840 |
No
State facility for the mentally ill in Tennessee.
Care was responsibility of local communities:
included family care, jails, almshouses, poor houses. |
| 1826 |
Almshouse
system established in Tennessee when General Assembly
granted Anderson County permission to build an almshouse.
Legislation expanded in 1827 to apply to all counties. |
| 1832 |
Tennessee
Legislature authorized first hospital for insane and
appropriated $10,000. |
| 1840 |
Tennessee
Lunatic Asylum opened in Nashville as the 11th institution
for mentally ill in USA. |
| 1847 |
Dorothea
Dix visited Tennessee and found Nashville asylum deficient.
She implored the Legislature to purchase larger site
for a new hospital. |
| 1848 |
Legislature
appropriated $40,000 for new hospital for insane.
Site purchased on Murfreesboro Turnpike. |
| 1852 |
Tennessee
Hospital for the Insane (now Middle Tennessee Mental
Health Institute) opened with 60 patients transferred
from old asylum. |
| 1868 |
Ewing
Building became first mental hospital for Negroes
in the USA. |
| 1886 |
East
Tennessee Hospital for the Insane (now Lakeshore Mental
Health Institute) opened in Knoxville with the
transfer of 99 patients from the Nashville hospital. |
| 1889 |
West
Tennessee Hospital for the Insane (now Western Mental
Health Institute) in Bolivar opened with the transfer
of 156 patients from Nashville. |
| 1909 |
Prohibition
law enacted in Tennessee. No special facilities
available for alcoholics, some of whom were cared
for at State Psychiatric Hospitals. |
| 1913 |
State
enacted narcotics law which allowed for registration
and maintenance of drug addicts. |
| 1916 |
Dr.
Sidney Wilgus, a representative of the National Society
for Mental Hygiene, found Tennessee's institutions
deficient in meeting minimum requirements for modern
treatment of mental disease. |
| 1919 |
Tennessee
Legislature appropriated $10,000 for construction
of institution for the feeble-minded. Additional
$100,000 appropriated the next year and site purchased
near Nashville. |
| 1919-1921 |
Federally
supported clinics, including ones in Knoxville and
Memphis, established for the temporary maintenance
of drug addicts. Experiment abandoned in face
of public opposition. |
| 1920 |
Names
of State Institutions changed to Eastern, Central,
and Western State Hospitals. Previously called
Hospitals for the insane. |
| 1923 |
Tennessee
Home and Training School for Feeble-Minded Persons
(now Clover Bottom Developmental Center) opened and
admitted 248 persons during first nine months of operation. |
| 1931 |
Separate
facility for the criminally insane opened on grounds
of Central State Hospital. |
| 1943 |
Gailor
Memorial Psychiatric Hospital opened in Memphis as
intensive, short-term treatment facility for mentally
ill. |
| 1946 |
National
Mental Health Act marks entry of Federal government
into mental health care. Chattanooga Guidance
Clinic established, followed by community clinics
in Knoxville and Nashville in 1948. |
| 1953 |
Tennessee
Department of Mental Health created as one of the
first such departments in the nation. Governor Clement
appointed the first Commissioner of the Department
on March 25. |
| 1960 |
Greene
Valley Hospital and School (now Greene Valley Developmental
Center) opened in Greeneville with 400 beds.
400 more beds were added by 1963. |
| 1961 |
Moccasin
Bend Psychiatric Hospital and Institute ( now Moccasin
Bend Mental Health Institute) opened in Chattanooga
as short-term, intensive treatment facility with 150
beds. |
| 1962 |
Tennessee
Psychiatric Hospital and Institute (now Memphis Mental
Health Institute) opened as a facility for short-term
treatment and research. |
| |
Tennessee
Re-Education Center (Cumberland House) opened as model
program for emotionally disturbed children. |
| 1963 |
Division
of Mental Retardation established in Tennessee
Department of Mental Health.
Alcoholism
programs transferred to TDMH from Department of
Public Health. |
| 1964 |
Mental
Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health
Centers Construction Act passed at the National level.
Tennessee received $5 million in Federal funds for
construction of community mental health centers during
the 1960's. |
| 1965 |
Medicare
and Medicaid enacted, beginning shift of some hospitalization
and treatment costs from States to the Federal governments. |
| 1969 |
Arlington
Hospital and School (now Arlington Developmental Center)
near Memphis opened with 600 beds for the mentally
retarded. |
| 1971 |
"Midnight
Raid" at Eastern State Hospital focused attention
on deficiencies in care and facilities there.
Resulted in several improvements. |
| 1972 |
Wyatt
v. Stickney, a federal court case in Alabama,
affirmed patient's right to treatment. Another
case, Jackson v. Indiana, led to evaluation
of patients in Tennessee's Forensic Services Unit. |
| 1973 |
Facilities
for the retarded renamed Developmental Centers.
The
Alcohol and Drug Abuse section created in the
Tennessee Department of Mental Health.
Legal
Services section established to review impact
of court decisions on Tennessee policies, and
to review and propose mental health legislation. |
| 1974 |
As
a result of Saville v. Treadway, new procedures
developed to guarantee rights of those entering developmental
centers. Patients no longer required to work
without pay at State institutions as a result of Townsend
v. Treadway. |
| 1974-1979 |
All
residential mental health and mental retardation facilities
in Tennessee accredited. |
| 1975 |
Tennessee
Department of Mental Health renamed Tennessee Department
of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. |
| 1976 |
Fifty-bed
Forensic Services Building opened at Central State
Hospital as part of nationally recognized system of
decentralizing forensics services in Tennessee. |
| 1977 |
State
Hospitals renamed Mental Health Institutes. |
| 1978 |
Mental
Retardation Secure Facility opened at Middle Tennessee
Mental Health Institute for mentally retarded offenders. |
| 1979 |
Nat
T. Winston Developmental Center opened at Western
Mental Health Institute for mentally retarded
persons with emotional problems.
Division
of Alcohol and Drug Services created in TDMHMR.
The
Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation began a long-range, consumer-based
planning process. |
| 1980 |
First
Five-year master plan developed as guide for service
development, facility construction, and funding
of mental handicap program. Plan revised
in 1982.
Governor's
Task Force on the Prevention of Mental Retardation
formed. |
| 1981 |
Federal
Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Block Grant Act brought
major restructuring of relationship among Federal,
State, and local governments. Changed pattern of funding
for community mental health centers. |
| 1982 |
Task
Force on Children and Youth appointed to study improvement
and expansion of services for this population. |
| |
New
evaluation standards developed for community mental
health centers. |
| 1983 |
Community
Initiative plan proposed to allocate additional
funds to community health centers through further
reductions in census at the institutes.
Healthy
Children initiative begins four-year effort to
emphasize health care and healthy lifestyle for
all children in Tennessee. |
| 1984 |
Department
develops 2 1/2 year plan emphasizing additional
community and children's programs. |
| 1986 |
"Protection
and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986" |
1987 |
Eric
Taylor named Commissioner of Department.
Law
to license facilities that provide services to
two or more unrelated people who have mental illness,
chemical dependency or mental retardation.
The
department secured a multi-year grant from the
National Institutes of Mental Health for human
resource development. |
1988 |
"Creativity
Unlimited," a traveling arts and crafts show
exhibiting the artwork of individuals with mental
illness, mental retardation and developmental
disabilities, opened. The feature exhibit was
Myrllen's Coat.
The
Divisions of Mental Health Services and Alcohol
and Drug Abuse developed a joint plan for treating
persons with dual-diagnosis -- mental illness
and/or drug abuse. |
1989 |
The
Divisions of Mental Health Services and Alcohol
and Drug Abuse developed a joint plan for treating
persons with dual diagnosis - mental illness and
alcohol and/or drug abuse.
The
Division of Mental Health Services joined the
Department of Human Services and the Division
of Juvenile Services (Department of Correction)
in the creation of seven home-based family preservation
projects.
The
Developmental Disabilities Council and the Division of Mental
Retardation established an office for People First. |
1990 |
Expanded
the role and function of the mental health regional
planning committees to include Community Mental
Health Centers, consumers and representation from
other state agencies.
Tennessee's
Medicaid Waiver for adults with mental retardation
was one of the 25 winners selected from nearly
350 applicants who competed in the 1990 Exemplary
State and Local Awards national program.
A
supported employment initiative betweeen the Division
of Mental Retardation and the Division of Rehabilitative
Services was developed to provide the opportunity
for 173 individuals with disabilities to work
in community job settings. |
1991 |
Evelyn
Robertson named Commissioner of the department.
New
quality assurance program initiated to ensure
that clients have timely access to desirable,
effective services which meet recognized standards
of good practice.
Division
of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services transferred
to the Department of Health.
The
Tennessee Developmental Disabilities Planning
Council established a statewide coalition of disability
advocates, funded 10 projects which promoted the
employment of persons with developmental disabilities
and began publication of a state wide newsletter. |
| 1992 |
Master
Plan for Mental Health Services developed. |
| 1993 |
The
Division of Mental Health Services established
an Office of Consumer Affairs. |
1994 |
Tennessee
prioneered TennCare, a substitute for the Medicaid
program.
Department
of Justice charged DMHMR to provide supports,
resources and expertise to improve the quality
of life for Arlington Developmental Center residents.
|
1995 |
Marjorie
Nelle Cardwell named Commissioner of the department.
Construction
was completed on a new state-of-the-art facility
for Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute.
Preparation
for the Transition to TennCare Partners, the Mental
Health Services program within TennCare.
Community
mental health block grants were allocated to 30
private non-profit community mental health centers.
Crisis,
respite, housing, supported employment, psychosocial
rehabilitation and forensic services were made
available to consumers.
Journey
of Hope funding was targeted to develop education
and training for families of individuals with
SPMI. Its goal was to provide family members with
skills to cope with relatives who had serious
and/or persistent mental illness.
Supported
Living as a state-funded demonstration project
was initiated.
The
Division of MR Services started an aggressive
policy of downsizing developmental centers and
increasing the quality of care available to their
residents. |
1996 |
The
TennCare Partners program was officially launched.
Under the TennCare Partners program, the department
went through a monumental change involving not
only contracted agencies, but also department-run
facilities. The regional mental health institutes
became more efficient and better able to compete
with private providers. And, for the first time,
consumers had other choices of where to go for
treatment.
Tennessee
State government signed onto the Internet and
implemented e-mail.
Information
Systems Management, in conjunction with the Division
of Mental Retardation Services, began developing
a new tracking and billing system.
The
Partners Program Information System was developed.
Individual
Support Planning adopted by Division of Mental
Retardation Services.
Commission
on Compliance established to oversee Arlington
Developmental Center's compliance with remedial
court order. Coupled with the settlement agreement
between People First, the United Staets, and the
State of Tennessee, institutional reform of the
Developmental Centers was initiated.
TDMHMD
and the Governor's Office established web sites.
TennCare
Partners Appeals Unit was created.
A
major public education campaign - Making the
Vision A Reality: Opening Doors, Changing Lives
was launched to share information regarding opportunities
for people with mental retardation or other disabilities
to live successfully in the community. |
1997 |
Major
public education campaign - Making the Vision
a Reality: Opening Doors, Changing Lives
was launched to share information regarding opportunities
for people with mental retardation or other disabilities
to live successfully in the community.
State-wide
conferences on Treatment Interface between Primary
Health Care and Mental Health providers in Manged
Care. |
1998 |
Elisabeth
Rukeyser appointed commissioner of the department.
Governor
Sundquist signed mental health parity legislation
to ensure that insurance policies cannot discriminate
in providing treatment for mental illness. This
legislation prohibits insurance policies in Tennessee
from enforcing lifetime benefit caps or other
restrictions for mental illnesses that are not
enforced for physical illnesses and surgical procedures.
Nat
T. Winston Developmental Center closed.
Title
33 Revision Commission appoitned to review Title
33 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, the
law pertaining to mental health and mental retardation.
|
1999 |
A
$12.75 million Children's Mental Health System
of Care initiative for children with special needs
was begun. The project targets children who are
at imminent risk of being placed in State custody,
hospitalization in residential placement, state
custody and those in need of services which would
allow for home care.
A
comprehensive revision of Title 33 of the Tennessee
Code Annotated was passed on June 23. The name
of the Department changed from Mental Health and
Mental Retardation to Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities. |
2000 |
Comprehensive
revision of Title 33 of the Tennessee Code
Annotated passed June 23. Official name of
the department changed from Mental Health and
Mental Retardation to Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities.
Statewide
training on the new mental health and developmental
disabilities law began.
The
Creating Homes Initiative (CHI) was started to
create and expand affordable, safe, permanent
and quality housing options in local communities
for people with mental illness in Tennesse.
Mental
Health Matters, a TDMHDD radio show, was first broadcast. |
2001 |
National
Strategy for Suicide Prevention is unveiled.
Greene
Valley Developmental Center celebrates 40th Anniversary.
TDMHDD/THDA award housing grants for people with mental illness.
TDMHDD Planning and Policy Council holds inaugural meeting
The University of Tennessee and the TDMHDD jointly offer the
Tennessee Interdisciplinary Health Policy Program
(TIHPP) for
Law, medical and pharmacy students. |
2002 |
In
March, people with developmental disabilities,
other than mental retardation, became eligible
for services under the MHDD law. A plan was developed
for expansion of services to them, subject to
available funding.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Day proclaimed on
May 28.
Creating Homes Initiative (CHI) Surpasses 2005
goal of providing 2005
permanent housing options to people with mental
illness.
CHI wins top Eli Lilly Housing Award |
2003 |
Virginia
Trotter Betts named commissioner of the department.
Real
Choice Systems Change Oversight Committee convenes
for first time with the goal of providing an effective,
consumer-directed housing resource system. Housing
Within Reach aims to change attitudes and misconceptions
regarding community housing for persons with mental
illness and co-occurring disorders thus fostering
a welcoming environment for residents of Tennessee
neighborhoods.
On
March 13, the TDMHDD celebrates its 50th birthday.
TDMHDD
web site re-design offers over 600 pages of access to information
and services.
US
Department of Housing and Urban Development honors TDMHDD housing
office for promoting fair housing for people with mental illness
and co-occuring disorders.
A
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) director
was appointed to oversee the TDMHDD’s compliance in all
HIPAA-related
matters.
New
TennCare Behavioral Healthcare Contracts Sought
by State
Task
Force on Dual Diagnosis appointed to study current
status of mental health supports for people with
mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
Identify best practices for delivery of mental
health supports. |
2003-2004
|
The
Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities celebrates 50 years of service to
Tennessee. |
