(1910- )
Established in 1910 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services is one of the five largest free-standing behavioral health providers in the United States. It was originally formed by a group of pastors and laity who wanted to create an organization that would help serve people’s well-being, spiritually as well as physically, mentally, and emotionally. Pine Rest was organized by members of the Reformed Church and the Christian Reformed Church, however, they provide services to people regardless of their culture or religion.
Historical Names of the Hospital
1908: Vereeniging tot Christelijk Hulp Betoon aan Krankzinnigen
1910: Vereeniging to Christelijke Verzorging van Krankzinnigen en Zenuwlijders
1910: Association for the Christian Care of the Mentally Ill in North America
1911: Christian Psychopathic Hospital
1913: Christian Psychopathic Hospital Association
1940: Pine Rest Sanitarium
1952: Pine Rest Christian Association
1961: Pine Rest Christian Hospital Association
1985: Pine Rest Christian Hospital
1990: Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
In June of 1909, 70 pastors and laymen of the Reformed denominations met to discuss the establishment of a Christian asylum for the “insane”. Those in attendance felt compelled to start a Christian asylum because they thought the State asylums did not offer the Christian care their patients deserved. The board purchased Cutler Farm, located south of Grand Rapids, in December of 1910. Despite low funds, the hospital admitted its first patient in 1911 and discharged him a year later, fully restored.
By 1912 the hospital was treating both men and women. In 1917, the board tried to move the hospital to the west side of Grand Rapids so that water, electricity and an adequate sewage system would be available. This move was met with protest by the area’s residents which caused the hospital to remain on Cutler farm. The hospital’s growth however necessitated larger facilities which resulted in four buildings being constructed in the years between 1918 and 1927.
The Pine Rest Building was constructed in 1940 and the Christian Psychopathic Hospital Association was renamed as the Pine Rest Sanitarium.
In the decades that followed, Pine Rest continued to grow and expanded the range of services they offered. This included more care and programming for children.
The 1980s has been referred to as Pine Rest’s “Golden Era” due to the development of the outpatient care program and rapid modernization of the campus in this decade. The hospital.
The 1990s was a transitional period for Pine Rest. Pine Rest modified their treatment models to reduce extraneous medical costs. Occupancy in inpatient beds rapidly declined. This resulted in the first layoff of both clinical and support staff in Pine Rest’s history. In 1994, signs of stabilization began to appear. Inpatient admissions increased, and there was an overall increase in patients and clients served.
The hospital continues to grow and services people, regardless of culture or religion, at dozens of locations in West Michigan, Northern Michigan and Iowa.
| Heritage Hall, Hekman Library
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