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Mission & History

Who We Are

Columbus Area, Inc. is a community mental health and wellness organization making a measurable difference in the lives of Central Ohioans. We are committed to serving those with the highest degree of need: people with severe mental illness; people with alcohol and other substance abuse/dependencies; and people with mental health and substance abuse problems re-entering society from prison. We approach our work with high professionalism and a unique emphasis on culturally appropriate interventions.

Mission

To provide culturally sensitive and quality mental health and wellness services to the community.

History

2010 marks the 45 th anniversary of one of Columbus’ largest providers of adult mental health services, Columbus Area, Inc. From the first efforts by our state and federal governments to provide community mental health services in the late 1960’s, Columbus Area, Inc. (formerly known as Columbus Area Community Mental Health Center) has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive adult mental health programming in Central Ohio.

Columbus Area, Inc. was founded by influential community leaders including Dr. George Harding and boasts many “firsts” as a mental health service provider over its long history. Some of these include:

  • First local mental health agency to receive federal dollars for services.
  • First to partner with a local private hospital to provide inpatient psychiatric services.
  • First to provide a drug treatment program using satellite service programs throughout the county.
  • First local agency to receive Joint Council on Accreditation of Hospitals accreditation.

Over the years, Columbus Area, Inc. has expanded or revised its programs to meet the ever-changing mental health needs of the community, despite the challenges of the mental health funding environment. Today it stands as a leader in adult mental health services, meeting the needs of the most difficult to treat clients and doing so with high professionalism and a unique emphasis on culturally appropriate interventions.