Founded in 1969 by a concerned group of community residents, Seminole Community Mental Health Center (SCMHC) employed a staff of three and operated out of a small storefront office. Today, SCMHC has developed into a multi-campus, comprehensive mental health agency with 170 employees and more than 10 programs.

SCMHC can be defined by the thousands of people whose lives we touch each year. Working with government agencies and other community resources, we extend an open invitation to those whose lives have been changed by mental illness, alcohol or drug dependency, or physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

A private, not-for-profit organization, SCMHC serves every resident of Seminole County, those who access our services as well as those who do not.  That's because every time we teach job skills to a mentally ill person who has never been able to work, we take a little pressure off the Seminole County taxpayer.

Over the years we've witnessed, and been affected by, the ebb and flow of social service spending plans. Our program and services would expand when funds were readily available only to shrink during leaner times.

This cycle reached a critical point in the early 1980's when our services and staffing had to be drastically reduced. Many of our lay board members assumed "on-site" leadership positions to steer the Center through this difficult time. With the arrival of executive director James Berko in 1983, our rebuilding process began. We developed a new direction and organizational plan, and established a formal mission statement and long-term goals. A cautious, but deliberate, approach to program expansion was instituted.

Today, Seminole Community Mental Health Center is well-governed by its board of directors representing local businesses and professional associations.  We have fostered strong alliances with the public school system, law enforcement agencies, the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Seminole County Health Department, the National Council For Community Behavioral HealthCare, the Mental Health Association of Central Florida, the Florida Council for Community Mental Health and the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association.

Most of our service operations generate from two major campuses. Our Fern Park campus houses our Engagement/Crisis Support, Case Management, Medical Services and Administrative/Support programs. 

The Bay Avenue/Miller Center Campus is home to our Crisis Stabilization Unit, Engagement/Crisis Support, Crossroads, Detox, Dual-Diagnosis, Medical Services, and Residential Treatment programs.

While many community resources in Seminole County offer support for people who are feeling down and out, our programs and services have been specifically designed to reach those who suffer from serious and persistent mental illness. In many cases, we're truly a safety net for those who have nowhere to turn. Our intention is not to provide custodial care or reward dependence on the mental health system. Instead, we offer temporary housing, support, and education -- allowing our clients to achieve a sense of self-respect, acquire useful skills, and develop the highest possible level of independence.