Westside History
The 1960's
In 1967, a group of San Francisco community activists and health care providers joined together in partnership to secure federal funding made available by President Kennedy’s 1963 Community Mental Health Act.
They would use the funding to develop a consortium of comprehensive community mental health services for San Francisco. The legislation allowed for the money to be channeled from the federal government to the Westside Catchment Area, which was bordered by Market, Van Ness, Stanyan, 6th Ave. and the northern border of San Francisco.
The federal funds were designated to provide for the unserved and underserved, a disproportionate number of whom were (and are) people of color. Westside’s mission specifically identified its role as aiding this target population, particularly African Americans, which was the majority population in the Western Addition.
Westside was one of the first agencies of its kind in the country and the most comprehensive; the consortium had as many as 24 programs. Many of them continue today as major providers in the San Francisco system of mental health care. They include Audrey L. Smith, Baker Places, Catholic Social Services, Children’s Hospital, Conard House, Family Service Agency, Mt. Zion Hospital, Pacific Medical Center Progress House, San Francisco Suicide Prevention, St. Mary’s Hospital, Youth Projects Inc., Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic, and Walden House.
The most remarkable feature of Westside was the value placed not just on community involvement but on community control of services. The Board of Directors—the governing body of the agency—was composed of members of two groups: 50% from the Community Advisory Board (CAB) and 50% from the Consortium member agencies. Time would tell how this unique combination of forces proved, over and over again, to be essential to Westside’s survival.
The Community Advisory Board served as a vital link to the neighborhood and to City Hall, holding annual community forums to give all residents of the Western Addition the opportunity to influence Westside's development of services. The CAB was also vital to the integrity of the services provided by the consortium. Though the providers believed in a community approach, they lacked the experience and training required to provide it. The CAB worked with the providers to help them deliver quality services that were responsive to the needs and sensibilities of the community.
The 1970's
The Westside Consortium saw its largest growth in the 1970’s under the Executive Directorship of Bill Pierce, Ph.D. (1973-1978). Dr. Pierce developed the NIMH Internship Training Program in 1976 and expanded the children’s services to include services for adolescents. During Dr. Pierce’s tenure, Westside purchased property from which to operate—a critical investment for the longevity of the agency and the community services it would continue to provide. The Westside Consortium moved into its new administrative office on Oak Street, where it still is today. It was during this time that Westside first felt the crunch of diminishing resources that plagued community mental health through the following decade. As the first 8-year CMH grant ended with Dr. Pierce’s leadership, Westside secured a rarely granted 5-year extension, continuing Westside’s independence.
The 1980's
The 1980’s brought a decrease in federal dollars, an increase in county control, and an increased need for community services. Consequently, as a means of budgeting resources, the county decided that they would manage the continuum of care. As a result of this change, the Westside Consortium became a direct service provider. The new Board of Directors was principally comprised of members of the CAB. By this time, community control was firmly rooted in the culture of Westside's Board. In the coming years the survival of Westside seemed completely dependent on the Board’s tenacity.
The 1980’s also ushered in the AIDS epidemic and further shrinking of the health care dollar. While the public characterized AIDS as a white man’s disease, Westside identified a growing incident of HIV disease in the African American Community. From 1982 to 1987, John Hayes, MSW, with 16 years of service to Westside, became the Executive Director. It was under Hayes’ leadership that the Westside AIDS Case Management Program was established and Westside was able to purchase another property site, which today houses many of Westside’s youth services.
Today
The agency has expanded its focus from mental health and substance abuse to develop programs that prevent HIV and provide care and treatment to those people who developed AIDS. The 90’s and the new millennium also ushered in a focus on integrating programs and services to treat all of the conditions that are impacting our clients. Most notably, Westside became one of the first agency of its kind to develop a holistic, culturally competent approach to treating the needs of dual and triple diagnosed individuals.
