Serving the Community for Over 50 Years



Netcare’s history is marked by a commitment to evolving and expanding its services to meet the needs of the community. Founded in 1972 as the Southwest Community Mental Health and Retardation Center, the center originally offered a comprehensive range of outpatient services, including specialized care for children, and established 24-hour emergency services. By 1973, we launched a county-wide Forensic Psychiatry program for pre-trial investigations and competency evaluations.
In 1980, the organization expanded its focus to broader healthcare services, rebranding as Southwest Community Health Centers, Inc., and introduced specialized programs like prenatal care and services for the deaf. The Netcare Foundation was established in 1982 to support services through fundraising.
Rebranded as Netcare Corporation in 1988, we expanded our client assessment capabilities and, by 1996, became Franklin County’s “front door” for crisis services. This period marked the beginning of Netcare’s role as the central hub for crisis services, providing unique crisis and intervention support to address mental health and addiction needs for all Franklin County residents.
Celebrating 50 years in 2022, Netcare now offers nine programs, supports 17,000 individuals annually, and handles over 200,000 crisis contacts. Netcare is dedicated to meeting people where they are by emphasizing community-based programs and has expanded its reach through participation in the National Suicide Prevention 988 call, text, and chat services, continuing its mission to ensure access to behavioral healthcare for all adults in need.
Timeline
Netcare Corporation was originally known as the Southwest Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center, Inc. It was founded in 1972 and was located at 854 West Town Street in Columbus. We’ve since grown into a comprehensive network of crisis and assessment services. The following timeline represents key elements in Netcare’s existence and growth through the decades.



