The experience has proven their hopes. The Agency opened its doors in 1973 with its Illinois Articles of Incorporation and a Community Counseling Program staffed by a part-time Medical Director, one counselor and a secretary. Its first office was in the "Old Milk Company Building" in Waterloo, Illinois. By 1975, the Agency had grown to employ a bookkeeper and two other counselors in the Community Counseling Program and one counselor in a program for the developmentally disabled. By that time, 120 families were using the Agency. In November 1978, Monroe County passed the Community Mental Health Funding Act, establishing the Monroe County 708 Board. In 1979, we began the Sheltered Workshop Program by merging the Developmental Disability Program and hiring five additional staff. The program started with 25 workshop clients in the Columbia Parkview School Building. Also in 1979, we began operating the Adult Enrichment Program and the Alcoholism Counseling Program, each utilizing one counselor.
In 1981, we purchased the Waterloo office and developed the Mental Health Endowment Foundation. In 1982, we began the Sunshine Home, the annual fund raising drive, and supported the development of the Teen Center. In 1985, we began a Case Coordination Unit and DUI Program and merged the Adult Enrichment Program with the Workshop. In 1987, we were accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and through the Mental Health Endowment Foundation, purchased the future site of our Agency. We conducted the beginning of the Capital Campaign and saw the Residential Facilities Management Specialists Group break ground to build the Group Home on Debra Lane. In 1988, we began a new Youth Program, Community Support Network, and construction of the new Agency building in Waterloo. In 1989, we consolidated our offices and moved into our new center on North Route 3 in Waterloo. In 1990, we began the Substance Abuse Prevention Program, the Respite Program, and in 1991, our Employee Assistance Program. In 1992, we opened our satellite office in Columbia, and in 1993, coordinated Monroe County's mental health response to the Flood of 1993. In 1995, we began the Supported Employment Program.
In 1996, we built our first apartment building. In 1997, along with the completion of Apartment Buildings 2 and 3, we began our Assisted Living Grant Program and our Regular Work Program. In FY98, we began continuous Quality Management training for all staff and upgraded computer system. In FY2000, we added Apartment Building 4 and began our Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services. In FY2001, we built and renovated 16,100 square feet of our main office and opened a Columbia office. In FY2002, we added Apartment Buildings 5 & 6 and a new Supported Residential Program. In FY2003, we completed the North Wing renovation and began an Intensive Out-Patient Program for substance abusing individuals. In FY2005, we purchased Apartment Buildings 7, 8, & 9, focused on "recovery", and transitioned to fee for services. In FY2006, we transitioned to a 40-hour workweek and brought on line Custom Information Solutions. FY2007 marked the retirement after 33 years of Executive Director, James Poschel. Also, the satellite office in Columbia was closed.