Our History

Our History - Responsive to Community Need

  • 1953: Incorporated on April 6 as Wyandotte County Child Guidance Center following an extensive community study to determine needs.
  • Purchased first building, a house at 1034 Barnett Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas; Junior League of Wyandotte County made $3,000 down payment.
  • 1957: Changed name to Wyandotte Guidance Center to reflect expansion of services to adults as well as children.
  • 1959: Moved to a larger facility in a house at 250 North 17th Street.
  • 1966: Changed name to Wyandotte County Mental Health and Guidance Center. Plan developed to evolve the Center to designation as a comprehensive community mental health center. Installed 24-hour emergency telephone Suicide Prevention Center, first of its kind in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area; available for all types of acute or chronic distress; served the entire metropolitan area.
  • 1968: Received approval of application for federal matching funds to construct a new building.
  • 1970: Established outreach offices in western Wyandotte and Northeast Kansas City, Kansas, communities.
  • 1972: Moved all services into new building at 3615 Eaton Street.
  • 1974: Impacted by adoption of state allocations system for supporting community mental health centers.
  • 1976: Changed name to Wyandot Mental Health Center.
  • 1977: Strengthened extensive liaison network with primary community agencies: Osawatomie State Hospital, Rainbow Mental Health Facility, Juvenile Court, and Social and Rehabilitation Services.
  • 1978: Established Children’s Team.
  • 1979: Initiated Family Crisis Intervention program and PEER counseling.
  • 1986: Housed partial hospital program and sexual abuse services at Tower Plaza offices, 38th and State Avenue.
  • 1990: Expanded services with passage of Mental Health Reform law to ensure linkage between community-based and hospital psychiatric care; all proposed admissions to state hospitals required screens by mental health center.
  • 1991: Leased more space at Tower Plaza to house Community Support Services (CSS).
  • 1992: Relocated CSS to Meadowlark Lane office to serve adults with serious and persistent mental illness. Moved Children’s Services from Eaton Street to Tower Plaza.
  • 1993: Provided intensive crisis services in aftermath of devastating Midwest flood.
  • 1998: Moved Community and Family Based Services to new location at 7840 Washington Avenue.
  • 2001: Changed name to Wyandot Center for Community Behavioral Healthcare.
  • 2002: Completed reorganization of Center consumer services into three clinical departments including Comprehensive Outpatient Services (COS), Community Based Services (CBS--for children, adolescents and families) and Community Support Services (CSS).
  • 2003: Opened an outreach office and center for the homeless in eastern Wyandotte County. Responded with outreach and crisis counseling to victims of May 4 tornadoes. Developed outreach to persons who are Spanish-speaking. Began Toys for Dots to provide Christmas gifts for young consumers.
  • 2004: Began partnership to offer training to the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. Relocated Administrative Office to 757 Armstrong Aveue.
  • 2005: Merited national recognition for crisis response.
  • 2006: Dedicated and opened 1301 North 47th Street Building for CBS and CSS. Received grant and began offering services at Duchesne Clinic and in Bethany Medical Building. Initiated respite services for youth.
  • 2007: Opened on-site pharmacy for consumers at 47th Street Building in collaboration with Genoa healthcare.
  • 2008: Established Wyandot Housing, Inc. Established new identity for youth services: PACES. Opened the McDowel Building as second location for PACES staff. Began offering respite services for adult consumers in December 2008.
  • 2009: Began operating an emergency shelter to serve youth in police protective custody due to neglect or abuse. Introduced SOAR program to enroll eligible adult consumers in Social Security Income or Social Security Disability Income.Transitioned housing services to new, related entity named Kim Wilson Housing, Inc. Introduced PACES Exchange & Visitation Center.
  • 2010: Restructured organization under Wyandot, Inc. umbrella; Wyandot, Inc. family of organizations include Wyandot Center, PACES, Kim Wilson Housing and City Vision. Relocated Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic and Crisis Clinic to 47th Street Building.
  • 2011: Trained staff as trainers for Mental Health First Aid. Launched Wyandot Therapy Institute to engage graduate student interns in therapy services for persons who are uninsured. Dedicated Frank Williams Outreach Center Nov. 4.
  • 2012: Collaborated in program to offer Crisis Intervention Team training to local law enforcement community. Expanded Kim Wilson Housing with Kansas City, Missouri office location. Introduced primary care clinic for adult consumers at Wyandot Center. Participated in national training on mental health, criminal justice interactions (Sequential Intercept Mapping). Added property management to services of Kim Wilson Housing with management of Oakwood Gardens Apartments. Created ArtMakers’ to encompass art therapy and gallery/studio. Enlisted Heartland RADAC to offer substance use disorder services at Frank Williams Outreach Center.  Launched Places for PACES as a collaboration of PACES and Kim Wilson Housing to help house at-risk families and youth. Observed 20th anniversary of City Vision.
  • 2013: Began to offer on-site laboratory services of Genoa Healthcare at 47th Street Building. Initiated PACES therapy services at Sunflower House, Shawnee, Kansas. Restructured Crisis Stabilization Services to include expanded hours for Crisis Clinic. Launched PAW – Partner Animals for Wellness. Adopted and introduced new electronic medical record. Introduced Beating the Blues for employees and family members. Introduced plans to adopt trauma-informed care across Wyandot, Inc. agencies. Launched first-ever capital campaign to build Robert’s Place Children’s Emergency Shelter and Respite Care
  • 2014: Expanded Crisis Clinic to weekend hours. Opened Rainbow Services, Inc. (subsidiary of Wyandot Center) on April 7 to operate 24/7 crisis stabilization resource at site of former Rainbow Mental Health Facility. Announced launch of Homes Within Reach, collaborative contracting/consulting services for Kansas involving Kim Wilson Housing Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas and Prairie View, Inc. Launched First Steps, PACES pre-K program.
  • 2015: Opened Robert’s Place Emergency Shelter 
  • 2016:
  • 2017: Moved RSI Services to 47th Street Building. Moved PACES primary services to Washington West
  • 2018: 
  • 2019: Changed name to Wyandot Behavioral Health Network