History

Gulf Bend Center was created under the Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act of 1965, which established a statewide system of locally, governed public community mental health and mental retardation centers. In 1970, after considerable research and planning by community and state leaders, the Center opened its doors to the people of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio, and Victoria counties. In 1974, Lavaca County joined the local service area.

Since its opening 43 years ago, the Center has provided services to approximately 40,000 people in the Crossroads Region.  The mission of the Center is to improve the quality of life of persons and their families who are challenged with problems related to mental illness and developmental disabilities. 

Our communities look to the Center as a provider of services for a very special segment of the population of those persons experiencing mental illness, specifically the serious and persistent mentally ill including persons with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. The Center also addresses the needs of persons with intellectual functioning and developmental disabilities.

Gulf Bend Center is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Commissioners’ Courts of the seven counties served.  Gulf Bend Center’s current Board of Trustees are as follows: Steve Hipes – Chair (Victoria County), Debra Baros – Vice-Chair (DeWitt County), Annette Pfeil – Secretary (Calhoun County), Shirley McMillan (Goliad County), James Vanek (Lavaca County), Louis Willeke (Refugio County), Harrison Stafford II (Jackson County), Gary Burns (Victoria County), and Melissa
Lester (Calhoun County).

Please click on the link below to view the Center's Timeline:

Gulf Bend Center Timeline