Black Hawk - Grundy Mental Health Center
Information
Number of patients waiting reflects the current number of patients waiting to be seen. This number changes frequently and is not exact.
About Us
Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center (BHGMHC) is a private, nonprofit, accredited community mental health center and a licensed substance use disorder provider under the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Our experienced staff design treatments to meet your specific needs. The BHGMHC serves those with short-term and long-term needs. Support patients of BHGMHC by making a donation.
Over the past 73 years, we have provided services to over 74,000 individuals/families in our the Cedar Valley. With almost 6,000 individuals who currently 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
Tom Eachus, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
Tenaea Jeppeson, ARNP
Psychiatry
Teresa Hanson, DNP, PMHNP
Psychiatry
Theresa Kramer, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
Stephanie Giesler, ARNP
Psychiatry
Samuel Rasmussen, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
Brekahn Gasvoda, LMSW
Mental Health Therapy
Nicole Delagardelle, ARNP
Psychiatry
Pat Nelson, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
Alyssa Fruchtenicht, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
Angela Bigelow, LMHC
Mental Health Therapy
Ashley Petersen, LMHC
Mental Health Therapy
Autumn Schrage, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
April Kiefer, LMSW
Mental Health Therapy
Abby Kolthoff, ARNP, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatry
Abby Rickert, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
Alexandra Harden, tLMHC
Mental Health Therapy
Adarienne Burrow, LMHC
Mental Health Therapy
Melissa Adams, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
Manraj Padda, MD
Psychiatry
Emily Swartley, ARNP
Psychiatry
Esther Ulrich, LMHC
Mental Health Therapy
Emily Thilges, LMSW
Mental Health Therapy
Emma Redington, LMSW
Mental Health Therapy
Donna Dobson Tobin, ARNP
Psychiatry
Kelsey Elfritz, LMHC
Mental Health Therapy
Kelsey Ostendorf, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
Kelly Decker, tLMHC
Mental Health Therapy
Connie Poppenhagen, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
Casey Alderman, tLMHC, CADC
Mental Health Therapy
Jason Dibben, LMSW
Mental Health Therapy
Jeremy Everett, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
Joyce Andresen, LISW
Mental Health Therapy
Additional Services
Mental Health Matters
The mental health of our community affects everyone, and that’s why Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center is eager to raise awareness and funds to help meet the critical need for services.
Each year, our community benefits from a popular Mental Health Awareness Breakfast fundraiser. In 2023, Emcee Susan Rolinger engaged in extended conversations with some of our most informed speakers about mental health matters.
To help us meet the need for mental health services, mark your calendar for May 10, 2024, which is the date of the 5th annual breakfast fundraiser (more details to come). And, of course, you’re always welcome to help support behavioral health services in the Cedar Valley.
Make It OK
BHGMHC supports the Make It OK campaign.
Make It OK is an anti-stigma campaign created to encourage individuals to talk more openly about mental illness. By breaking the silence, we can help our friends, neighbors and loved ones feel understood and supported.
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
Learn more at MakeItOK.org.
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.