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Prairie View's move marks new era for mental health care

Staff reporter

It's the mid-1960s. Each community has its own hospital, doctors, and other medical professionals available. Mental illness is still considered to be somewhat taboo.

The exception is a group of ministers and concerned Marion County residents who want to offer mental health services within the county.

Enter Prairie View.

The history of Prairie View is simple. Believing the church had something important to contribute to mental health care, the Mennonite Central Committee organized Mennonite Mental Health Services. As conscientious objectors during World War II, Mennonites served their country in other capacities with many being assigned to state mental hospitals. The religious workers were dismayed by the impersonal, sometimes cruel and brutal treatment inflicted upon people with mental illnesses.

Three small hospitals were opened with the third opening March 15, 1954, in Newton.

Meanwhile, Marion County residents wanted mental health services available for residents in the county. A coalition was formed with McPherson and Harvey counties.

Meetings were held periodically with board members from the three counties. One person from each town within the county was selected as a designated contact person. This person had orientation through Prairie View to assist residents as needed.

It was 1967 when Prairie View staff began to serve Marion County residents with Merrill F. Raber spending a half day per week. He worked closely with schools, courts, the welfare department, and churches. He had a regular schedule of going to Hillsboro, Peabody, Goessel, and Marion. The hospital in each of the towns had been designated as the most central place for the appointments.

Within 10 years, it was evident a permanent office needed to be established to serve Marion County residents. With support from Marion County Commission and cooperation with St. Luke Hospital, Marion County Community Mental Health Services opened its first office at 122 S. Roosevelt, Marion, with Prairie View providing the staff.

By 1982, more space was needed as the patient base continued to grow. The office moved to its current location, Dr. T.C. Ensey's former office at 504 S. Roosevelt, which is an annex building of St. Luke Hospital.

In a Nov. 17, 1982, news article in the Marion County Record, the new location would "assure a better integration of mental health services closer to the physical health services in the area.

"Other benefits of the new location include more office space, easier access for the public, more pleasant atmosphere, better confidentiality, better parking, and more visibility for mental health service in Marion County.

Walter Thiessen was the director at that time and Sarah Penner was the hospital administrator.

Psychiatrists then were assigned to the Marion office and staff continued to grow.

Why Marion County?

Larry Nikkel served as administrator and chief executive officer of Prairie View from 1974 to 1993. During his tenure, he saw many changes.

"The state put money in community mental health and offices were opened," he said.

The concept was to provide mental health services as close to home as possible.

"We didn't want people to have to drive far for services," Nikkel said. Offices were established in McPherson in 1965 and Marion in 1967.

Nikkel said he doesn't remember any negative opposition to Prairie View's presence.

"The real issue at that time was 'How can we put enough money in this program to provide adequate services?'" he said.

Nikkel said he can recall visiting the Marion County Commission to discuss finances.

"It made sense to be in Marion," Nikkel said, with Marion being the county seat.

During his tenure, he said there was no discussion of moving the facility.

Nikkel will complete his ninth year as president of Tabor College of Hillsboro when he retires in December.

Prairie View today

With the expansion of services by St. Luke Hospital and nonrenewal of Prairie View's lease, Prairie View officials were faced with the dilemma of where to move.

After hearing offers from the City of Marion and the City of Hillsboro, officials chose to move to Hillsboro.

With the closing of the Marion Office June 30, and moving to Hillsboro, 28 staff members are moving, too.

According to Jessie Kaye, chief executive officer of Prairie View, a significant number of residents were served from the Marion office.

"We serve nearly 800 Marion County clients each year," she said. "Our operating budget for the Marion County office is in excess of $1 million."

In addition to the clinic-based services, Prairie View clinicians see elderly patients in three nursing homes within the county, provide an intensive summer rehabilitation program that serves children and adolescents, sponsor Food For Thought programs with educational presentations, provide a family support worker, divorce education classes, and family support groups.

Moving to Hillsboro

As of June 30, the mental health office that has served the county well in Marion will move to Hillsboro.

The City of Hillsboro is leasing property to Prairie View in Hillsboro Heights, on the corner of Western Heights and Hickory Street, for 50 cents per year.

According to Mayor Delores Dalke, 4,700 square feet of portable office units will be moved this week with the city installing transformers, water meters, and a gravel parking lot.

Previously the two lots were sold to a developer who was planning a movie theatre. When that project didn't develop, the city bought back the lots for the same price as the individual had paid and made them available to Prairie View.

"It is a shot in the arm but I don't see anything dramatic at this point," Dalke said. "It's the traffic from people coming to town is where we'll see the difference."

The portable facility will be in the business park for two years when Prairie View will decide its next move.

"This is a county facility," Dalke said. "It's not a Hillsboro facility just like it wasn't a Marion facility. It is a county facility."

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