Black Hawk - Grundy Mental Health Center
Hours & Directions
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
About Us
Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center is a private, nonprofit, community mental health center accredited by the Iowa Department of Human Services. Our experienced staff design treatments to meet your specific needs. The Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center serves those with short-term and long-term needs. Support patients of BHGMHC by making a donation.
Over the past 73 years, our services have touched over 72,000 individuals/families in our catchment area. With over 5,000 individuals who rely upon us for their services and a staff of approximately 80, we continue our efforts to respond to identified community needs in developing our services and programs.
Providers at this Location
Additional Services
Make It OK
It's time to start talking about mental health and Make It OK.
- It's OK to have a mental illness – many people do
- 1 in 5 will have some type of mental illness in their lifetime
- It's OK to talk about mental illness – talking makes people feel less alone
- It's OK to get help with mental illness – life can get better
Just as learning about physical health or financial health has helped us create stronger families and a more caring environment, we believe that combating stigma will help us make UnityPoint Health a more supportive and accepting organization – and have a positive impact on our community at large.
What is Make It OK?
Make It OK is an anti-stigma campaign that was created to encourage individuals to talk more openly about mental illnesses. By breaking the silence, we can help our friends, neighbors, loved ones and team members feel understood and supported.
Learn How to Make It OK
Mental illnesses are surprisingly common. One in five Americans, from all walks of life, experiences a mental illness each year. But because of the stigma, most people live with their symptoms for 10 years before seeking treatment. This impacts not only those with mental illnesses, but their friends and loved ones, too. Mental illnesses are highly treatable. The sooner people get treatment, the greater their chances of recovery.
Learn more at MakeItOK.org.
Mental illnesses are as common as silver cars, as people with brown eyes and more common than being left-handed. Despite being one of the most common illnesses, there is still a stigma attached to mental illnesses and many people struggle with talking about them.
Mental health is just as important as our physical health, which is why we are part of a local effort to stop the silence and the stigma. The effort is part of a campaign called "Make It OK," and is designed to encourage people to talk more openly about mental illnesses and ask for help.
It's OK to have a mental illness – many of us do.
One in four Americans from every walk of life experience a mental illness. Most people live with the symptoms of a mental illness for ten years before seeking treatment, largely due to the stigma. The sooner people get treatment, the greater their chances of recovery.
It's OK because it is a medical condition – not a character flaw.
Mental illnesses are biological conditions that can be treated, just like cancer and diabetes. They cannot be overcome through "will power" and are not related to a person's character or intelligence.
It's OK because it's treatable – life can get better.
The best treatments for serious mental illnesses today are highly effective. In fact, between 70 – 90 percent of peoples' symptoms are reduced and feel better when following individualized treatment plans.
Talking more openly about mental illness is one way we can reduce the stigma and "Make It Ok." Sometimes we resort to silence because it can be hard to find the words to say. Although talking about mental illnesses may be uncomfortable for you at first, know that it is also a difficult conversation for your friend. Be nice, supportive and listen. Offer to help and keep the conversation going.
Get some of the tips from the Make It OK toolbox to get you as you become more comfortable talking about mental illnesses.
What is stigma?
Can you recognize mental illness stigma?
- Mental illness stigma comes in many forms. Exclusion, silence and labeling are just a few. Learn more at MakeItOK.org.
- Check out The Stigma Impact Checklist interactive learning experience.
Our History
1949
In 1949, a group of citizens on the Social Services Council in Black Hawk County began discussing the need for a mental health center in our community. These meetings, facilitated by Opal Fore, a visiting social worker from the Iowa Mental Health Authority, Glenda Mabrey, a teacher with the Waterloo Public Schools and Blair Wood, the Black Hawk County Attorney, resulted in the election of the first Board of Directors in December 1949.
1950
On March 21, 1950, the Center opened for business with three offices located at 420 Commercial Street. In five short years, The Center had outgrown the space available, and a move was made to the corner of West 11th and Washington Street. Again, the demand for service exceeded the staff and space resources available and a waiting list for services was established. Sometimes, it took as long as six to ten months to be seen.
1957
The Mental Health Center's first Executive Director, Jack Joelson was hired in November 1955 and in 1957, the agency moved yet again to the Community Services Building located at 2530 University Avenue.
1964
Dr. Harold Korner was hired as the first Medical Director in 1961 and in 1964, we began providing services to residents of Grundy County.
1966
In the fall of 1966, a new building totaling 5,000 square feet was completed at 3251 West 9th Street.
1988
In 1988, we opened our Community Support Center at 907 Independence Avenue for our Outreach, Drop In and Homeless Programs. This facility closed in 2003 due to budget constraints.
2001
In 2001, we added a 6,000 square foot addition to our main building. We began leasing space in the Black's Building in 2006 for our Mental Health Recovery/Peer Support Center and in 2017 we moved this program to a leased building at 624-262 Commercial Street in Waterloo.
2011
In 2011 we completed our second building addition at our main office, adding much needed office and meeting room space.