Putting the Pieces Together. - Vista Hill

1 Vista Hill Celebrates 50 Years of ServicePutting the Pieces together ..Stronger Futures .. Helping Families Achieve Peace of Mind 1957-2007vista hill 1 Mission:Measurable improvement in family functioning, independence, and behavioral health through high-quality programs focused on education, prevention, and early Vista Hill celebrates its 50th anniversary, we look back at theremarkable impact this organization has had on the individuals andfamilies who often had nowhere else to turn. The timeline on thepages to follow shows a vivid visual record of Vista Hill s contribu-tion to the community throughout the years great success helpingfamilies put the Pieces of their lives back just how do we measure success at Vista Hill?

2 One measure is sheer longevity. Equipped with the forward-thinking vision its founders set forth in 1957, Vista Hill has demon-strated the stability, reliability, and commitment necessary to tacklethe tough problems that so many other agencies are reluctant to address. The most important measure is those whose lives have beentouched and transformed by Vista Hill. The literally thousands ofpeople of all ages, from communities large and small, both withinand outside of San Diego County, who were overwhelmed withmental illness, substance abuse or developmental disabilities butwho found healing and hope at Vista Hill.

3 From the joyful mom who got her children back after gettinghelp to escape a nightmarish world of drugs, to the child withautism taught to speak for the first time, to the troubled teen wholearned how to overcome behavioral problems and become a pro-ductive, contributing adult, to the shattered family put back togetherthanks to intensive therapy and counseling. There are hundreds ifnot thousands of success stories like to measure, but equally as crucial, is the success VistaHill has had in preventingproblems. Many of our programs include abuilt-in early intervention element that enables us to identify theroot cause of a given problem.

4 In this way we can intervene beforeit takes hold. This strategy alone has saved vast expenditures of public money, avoided untold human suffering, and significantlyimproved the health of our also measure our success in the tireless and professionalskill of the many Vista Hill employees, past and present, who haveinvested their careers and really their lives in providing the compassionate care that makes such a difference. Finally, look at the philanthropic gifts we ve received throughthe years from the passionate Vista Hill volunteers and donors whoknow and value what we do in the community.

5 Our programs havecaptured their imagination and made them want to be part of this special organization. We thank each and every one of you foryour challenges will Vista Hill face in the next 50 years? Wecan t predict the future, but we do know that Vista Hill will be will tackle the toughest of those challenges with pride andcourage so that we can continue our mission of creating strongerfamilies and brighter futures. That will always be the true measureof our success ..James S. BrownRobert DeanChairman of the BoardPresident and CEOV ista Hill s Half-Century of Success Can Be Measured in Lives Touched and Transformed2vista hill1946 1950 1953 1957 1957key Specific Vista Hillhistorical milestonesappear in passes theNational Mental HealthAct that leads to creationof the National Instituteof Mental Health.

6 The Hill-Burton Act is alsopassed to provide federalfunding for hospital construction in the historicalkey momentsappear in Diegansneeding careare sent to sanitariums, state facilities, or stay isolatedat NationalMental HealthAssociation caststhe bell of freedom. Thebell symbolizesfreedom fromstigma and theshackles of state the Pieces together : Vista Hill Through the Years1957 1962 1963 1963 Vista Hill Hospital (Chula Vista ) becomesSan Diego s first licensedprivate psychiatric hospital (50 beds). The facility is donated by psychiatrist ElmerPeterson, is reported in scientific journals as the firsteffective anti-depressant medication.

7 Ken Kesey publishesOne Flew Over theCuckoo s FoundationHospital (Los Angeles)is purchased toprovide inpatient psychiatric Kennedysigns the CommunityMental HealthCenters Act thatmandates transitionfrom large state hospitals to community Young Clinic is established to treat the uninsured with psychiatric illness. Businessman DouglasYoung serves early on as a Vista Hill board Hill PsychiatricFoundation forms as a501(c)(3) not-for-profitcorporation. RobertThorn (pictured), WileyCurry, and Cy Dixonstructure a plan todevelop San Diego sfirst private accreditedpsychiatric land lease negotiated with the San Diego Hospital Association(Sharp Memorial Hospital) is theeventual site for Mesa Vista Vista Hospital is designed as a modern psychiatric hospital redefining private care for San eventually expands to 150 beds and becomes the largest private psychiatric hospital in San Diego.

8 At about 18 months werealized that Patrick ssocial and verbal skillswere not progressingas they should. Wefound out it was autism,and things went down-hill from there. By thetime we got to SteinEducation Center, hewas five years old withbehavior problems sodifficult that we didn tknow where to nine years laterhe is in a special-edclass in high school,and two periods a dayhe goes to regularclasses. He is a changedyoung man, and we can tthank Stein EducationCenter enough. Mary and GeorgeVenables, Patrick s parentsvista hill 3196519651967 1969 1970 Vista Hill Foundation celebratesits 10-year and clinics includeVista Hill Hospital, Mesa VistaHospital, Compton FoundationHospital, the Douglas YoungClinic, and the South BayGuidance Center.

9 Vista Hill Foundationadopts a stylizedcaduceus as a corporate logo. The letters VHF are incorporated into the Medicare andMedicaid bill ispassed by Congress. Children with autismare legally excludedfrom attending AmericanMedical Associationpasses a resolutionstating that alcoholism is a disease that meritsserious FDA approves lithiumcarbonate to treatmanic-depressive(bi-polar) becomes animportant part ofsuccessful treatmentfor adults with this the direction of RobertMoore, , Medical Director,Mesa Vista Hospital starts the first local private inpatient treatment program for alcoholism.

10 I was 35 years old; I haddual diagnosis. It was in1974 when psychiatricproblems weren t asacceptable as they arenow. I kept it a secretexcept from my hus-band and a couple offriends. It doesn t mat-ter what your back-ground is or how oldyou are. I was in a VistaHill program with aconcert pianist, an ex-nun, a young manwho had long hair andplayed the guitar, and atennis pro. We all helpedeach other. I thought Iwas going there for arest .. they kept usbusy from seven in themorning until evening:medication, ceramics,exercise, groups, was quite anexperi-ence, and I m verythankful to Vista Hill.