McFarland Mental Health Center
| McFarland Mental Health Center | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 1964 |
| Construction Began | 1965 |
| Opened | April 15, 1968 |
| Current Status | Active |
| Building Style | Cottage Plan |
| Location | Springfield, IL |
| Alternate Names |
|
History[edit]
The Andrew McFarland Zone Center opened in July of 1966 with the idea of outpatient service for children. It consist of 6 detached wards and an administrative building Prior to that time the services had been provided by the clinical staff detailed to Springfield from the Institute for Juvenile Research. The staff at IJR were transferred to McFarland and inpatient services began in 1968. It has been said that McFarland was added to the list of other Zone Centers opened in 1966 at the last minute for political reasons.
In 2023 Governor Pritzker announced a new name for the McFarland Mental Health Center. By executive proclamation, it is now officially the Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard Mental Health Center. On signage and in common use, it will become known simply as the Packard Mental Health Center. Located on the south side of Springfield, the psychiatric hospital employs more than 250 staff and supports over 120 patients with serious mental illness on a 24/7 basis. Renaming this Center in honor of Elizabeth Packard, who founded the Anti-Insane Asylum Society and pushed multiple states to reform their laws to better recognize the rights of mental health patients, is an important step in the right direction.
Images of McFarland Mental Health Center[edit]
Main Image Gallery: McFarland Mental Health Center
