Editing Arkansas State Hospital
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In 1881, the legislature levied a one-mill tax on all property in the state for two years and created an appropriation of $150,000 for the construction, outfitting, and operation of the asylum. | In 1881, the legislature levied a one-mill tax on all property in the state for two years and created an appropriation of $150,000 for the construction, outfitting, and operation of the asylum. | ||
| − | The asylum opened officially on March 1, 1883, with Dr. Chastaine Caldwell Forbes as superintendent. The first patient had actually been admitted by legislative order a few days earlier. Over the next few decades, a pattern of overcrowding and expansion emerged. As the available space was filled, the legislature was convinced to provide for the construction of additional facilities. By 1915, there were twelve buildings housing patients at the Little Rock site. In the 1930s, a hospital farm was established at Baucum (Pulaski County), where some of the more physically able patients were employed in the operation of a dairy farm. There were about 100 inmates to start with at the farm. By 1936, the need for further expansion prompted the opening of the Benton Farm Colony, as it was then called. It was planned to hold about 2,000 patients. With the opening of the Benton Unit of the State Hospital (BUSH), a geographical plan for admissions was made. The Arkansas River was the | + | The asylum opened officially on March 1, 1883, with Dr. Chastaine Caldwell Forbes as superintendent. The first patient had actually been admitted by legislative order a few days earlier. Over the next few decades, a pattern of overcrowding and expansion emerged. As the available space was filled, the legislature was convinced to provide for the construction of additional facilities. By 1915, there were twelve buildings housing patients at the Little Rock site. In the 1930s, a hospital farm was established at Baucum (Pulaski County), where some of the more physically able patients were employed in the operation of a dairy farm. There were about 100 inmates to start with at the farm. By 1936, the need for further expansion prompted the opening of the Benton Farm Colony, as it was then called. It was planned to hold about 2,000 patients. With the opening of the Benton Unit of the State Hospital (BUSH), a geographical plan for admissions was made. The Arkansas River was the divder, those from north of the river were admitted to the hospital in Little Rock while those from south of the river were admitted to the Benton unit In 1957, due to changes in what was thought appropriate in the care of the inmates, the legislature ordered the cessation of all farm operations. |
After almost eighty years, many of the original buildings were becoming dilapidated, and there were calls to replace the structures. In 1960, $6 million was appropriated for the renewal of the Little Rock facilities, and then in 1964, a federal grant of $291,950 was acquired for the updating of the Benton Unit. The Little Rock facility, in use as part of the Division of Behavioral Health Services, was replaced in 2008 with a 130-bed, 152,000-square-foot building adjacent to the campus of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The old facility was replaced after mental health advocates complained about it being inadequate for the proper treatment of the mentally ill although the Forensics Unit remains at the site. UAMS bought the land and has since built a dorm on the site. The Little Rock Community Mental Health Center at one time was part of the State Hospital and was known then as The Greater Little Rock Ommunity Mental Health Center before becoming private, not for profit in 1993. Pulaski County Circuit Court has a courtroom on the grounds by LRCMHC and the Forensics Unit which is used for all civil committment hearings and 911 proceedings. In the late 1960's the state opened George W. Jackson Community Mental Health Center in Jonesboro which provided hosptization for patients in northeast area of the state as well as outpatient care for the region. In 1993 Midsouth Health Systems was incorporated and chartered by the state to take over as the CMHC for George W Jackson. | After almost eighty years, many of the original buildings were becoming dilapidated, and there were calls to replace the structures. In 1960, $6 million was appropriated for the renewal of the Little Rock facilities, and then in 1964, a federal grant of $291,950 was acquired for the updating of the Benton Unit. The Little Rock facility, in use as part of the Division of Behavioral Health Services, was replaced in 2008 with a 130-bed, 152,000-square-foot building adjacent to the campus of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The old facility was replaced after mental health advocates complained about it being inadequate for the proper treatment of the mentally ill although the Forensics Unit remains at the site. UAMS bought the land and has since built a dorm on the site. The Little Rock Community Mental Health Center at one time was part of the State Hospital and was known then as The Greater Little Rock Ommunity Mental Health Center before becoming private, not for profit in 1993. Pulaski County Circuit Court has a courtroom on the grounds by LRCMHC and the Forensics Unit which is used for all civil committment hearings and 911 proceedings. In the late 1960's the state opened George W. Jackson Community Mental Health Center in Jonesboro which provided hosptization for patients in northeast area of the state as well as outpatient care for the region. In 1993 Midsouth Health Systems was incorporated and chartered by the state to take over as the CMHC for George W Jackson. | ||
