History

founders For more than 33 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

1983

Upscale Resale store on Euclid opens
1981

Independence Center established
1985

Midwest Psychiatry, offering psychiatric services as part of BJC, opens
1984

West Pine House opens and Independence Center becomes the second of only five national training bases for the Clubhouse model of rehabilitation
1986

Midland House, IC’s second Clubhouse located in St. Louis County, opens, along with its own upscale resale shop.
1985

Independence Center purchases and opens Lohmeyer apartments, the first independent housing community offered through the Center
1993

Newstead Apartments, a licensed home with 24-hour supports on-site, opens one block away from West Pine House.
1992

Laclede Apartments, the Center’s second independent housing community, opens
1998

West Pine House Shop moves to new location in the Central West End
1994

Stupp Apartments, also a licensed home with 24-hour supports on-site, opens in St. Louis County
2003

Independence Center established the first-ever, on-site Wellness Program with a complete fitness center.
1999

Midland House moves to new location in Olivette
2007

New consolidated Clubhouse on Forest Park Avenue opens!
2006

Independence Center celebrates 25 years of serving the St. Louis area and makes plans for consolidation of West Pine and Midland Houses