History

For more than 30 years, Independence Center has provided innovative, quality programs that help more than 1,500 individuals with serious mental illnesses live and work in the community each year.

In 1981, there were few community-based programs, and very little funding for such programs, yet the Center’s founding board and Executive Director were undaunted. They vigorously launched a series of programs and services that would help an isolated, disenfranchised group of people become participating members of our community.

As Independence Center's reputation for quality and innovation grew, it quickly became nationally recognized, winning awards such as: the American Psychiatric Association Best Program Award (1999), President's Committee "Best Practices on Employment" (2002), the Eli Lilly Re-integration Awards (2002, 2004), FOCUS St. Louis' "What's Right With the Region" Award (2008) and the HUD Peer Recognition Award (2008).

Highlights:

1981: Independence Center established
1983: Upscale Resale store on Euclid opens
1984: West Pine House opens and Independence Center becomes the second of only five national training bases for the Clubhouse model of rehabilitation
1985: Midwest Psychiatry, offering psychiatric services as part of BJC, opens
1985: Independence Center purchases and opens Lohmeyer apartments, the first independent housing community offered through the Center
1986: Midland House, IC’s second Clubhouse located in St. Louis County, opens, along with its own upscale resale shop.
1992: Laclede Apartments, the Center’s second independent housing community, opens
1993: Newstead Apartments, a licensed home with 24-hour supports on-site, opens one block away from West Pine House.
1994: Stupp Apartments, also a licensed home with 24-hour supports on-site, opens in St. Louis County
1998: West Pine House Shop moves to new location in the Central West End
1999: Midland House moves to new location in Olivette
2003: Independence Center established the first-ever, on-site Wellness Program with a complete fitness center.
2006: Independence Center celebrates 25 years of serving the St. Louis area and makes plans for consolidation of West Pine and Midland Houses
2007: New consolidated Clubhouse on Forest Park Avenue opens!