Our History

Volunteer Behavioral Health Care Systems, Inc. was formed in January 1995, as the parent organization for Johnson Mental Health Center, Inc. and Hiwassee Mental Health Center, Inc. Plateau Mental Health System, Inc. entered the Volunteer system in February 1996, followed by The Guidance Center in August 1998, and Cumberland Mental Health Services, Inc. in July 1999. Volunteer is a private not-for-profit corporation, as were each of the five mental health centers listed above. Each mental health center has a rich history of over 20 years of providing community based services for seriously and persistently mentally ill (SPMI) adults, severely emotionally disturbed (SED) children and adolescents, and persons with alcohol and drug treatment needs.

While Volunteer has been in existence only since 1995, the five mental health centers making up the Volunteer system have an operating history that extends back to 1962. Volunteer provides comprehensive behavioral health care services from 58 service locations covering 31 counties and 11,192 square miles in Tennessee, which is largest geographical mental health area serviced in the state. The yearly budget is over 35 million and our last fiscal year we saw 25,768 adults, 6,895 children for a combined total of 32,663 unduplicated clients. We currently have 158 residential beds and 40 active homes in our foster care program. Recently, we reached a business agreement with Genoa Healthcare Full-Service Pharmacies. The pharmacies were incorporated into six of our locations so that we can provide better access to medication for our clients. Volunteer currently has 696 employees which include psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, licensed psychologists, case managers, doctoral interns, and clerical staff. Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System is a Tennessee public benefit corporation organized pursuant to the Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act. Volunteer was organized in 1995 to promote and support the interest and purposes of other organizations that provide behavioral health care, education, or research to the community and which qualified as organizations exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 (c) (3).

Volunteer offers outpatient services to adults, children, and families in its 31 county service area. Services include: individual, family, marital and group therapy; evaluations and assessments; crisis response and respite; specialized programs for children and families; services for the severally/persistently mentally ill; physician/psychiatric medication management; alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention/education; Employee Assistance Programs and Behavioral Wellness Seminars. Volunteer operates two of the three Crisis Stabilization Units and Walk-In Clinics for behavioral health issues in the State of Tennessee. One is located in Cookeville and the other in Chattanooga. Volunteer also operates a juvenile residential program and a half-way house for adult males; as well as, developing housing for clients through contracts with boarding homes and apartments. Volunteer also manages several HUD residential properties through an agreement with three mental health housing corporations.

The Clinics and Special Programs of the Volunteer System provide a broad array of services and treatment. It has always been Volunteer's purpose to meet or exceed customer expectations by being the preeminent provider of behavioral health care. Here at Volunteer we strive to make a difference in every life that reaches out to us for help, we live by our slogan, "Help Today… For a Better Tomorrow."