THE ASPIRE BLOG

“To know the humble beginnings from which we began to where we are today still makes me ask myself, ‘How did we ever do it?’ The answer, of course, is all the great people we had who were part of the enterprise of what would become over all those years and to this day Aspire!”

These are the words of Rich DeHaven, who served as President and CEO of Aspire Indiana Health from 1975 to 2017. During his 43 years at the head of the organization, he led Aspire through several milestones, including the merging of The Center for Mental Health and BehaviorCorp to form Aspire Indiana, Inc. in 2009.

But Aspire’s journey began in 1966 with the founding of The Center for Mental Health — an organization dedicated to serving individuals with serious mental illness under the framework of Indiana’s Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC).

Community Mental Health Center Movement

“The community mental health center movement started in the early ’60s, about the same time I was born,” says former Aspire COO and CEO Barbara Scott. “To think that only 60 years ago, people were simply hospitalized for having mental illnesses, and now they are members of our society with equal rights where they can live, work and play in their community — that is simply amazing!”

The Center for Mental Health opened its doors in Anderson, Ind., in 1966 and later opened a facility in Elwood in 1977 and then in Noblesville. In 1976, Tri-County Mental Health Center opened its doors in Carmel, eventually expanding to Noblesville, Lebanon and Indianapolis.

Aspire Program Manager of Crisis Services LouAnn Lemaire-Pyle has been with Aspire for more than 40 years, having started as an employee at Tri-County Mental Health Center.

“I have learned so much through the years and witnessed so much change in the field of mental health and healthcare in general,” she says. “Those of us in the field witness much sadness and hardship with the people we serve, but we also have the privilege of sharing in their successes and resilience demonstrated every day in the toughest circumstances.”

The Center for Mental Health and Tri-County Mental Health Center were each dedicated to serving individuals with serious mental illnesses, partnering with state and local agencies, including the judicial system to provide care to a vulnerable community and ensure stability and independence.

“Aspire has spent 60 years helping people navigate behavioral health issues and push past the stigma that involves,” says Andrea Coahran, a systems analyst with Aspire who began with The Center for Mental Health and has been with Aspire for more than 37 years.

In 1992, Tri-County rebranded as BehaviorCorp, Inc., reflecting on its expanding services and commitment to meeting the complex needs of Medicaid and Medicare populations.

“The consistency and dedication to serve people in our community makes the counties that we serve healthy and stronger,” says Aspire Community Health Worker Jeffrey Johnson, who started with The Center for Mental Health and has served the organization for more than 40 years. “Aspire has seen so much amazing growth — kudos to Aspire for progress and stability in serving all the communities we work in.”

The More You Change, the More You Stay the Same

The merging of The Center for Mental Health and BehaviorCorp in 2009 to form Aspire Indiana, Inc. proved significant to the identity of Aspire. Recognizing that mental health is deeply connected to one’s physical wellbeing, Aspire set out to offer primary medical care in addition to the behavioral health services it already provided. 

“Aspire’s decision to take on the provision of primary care meant taking a more integrated approach both for how we viewed the needs of our consumers and how we structured treatment,” DeHaven says. “Going through the journey of becoming a FQHC presented new challenges but also opportunities to think outside ‘our’ box — and seeing challenges as new opportunities has become part of Aspire’s DNA.”

In 2015, Aspire launched its first medical services with a nurse practitioner-led model with oversight by doctors, and then obtained certification as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike in 2017. Primary care physicians have strengthened Aspire’s clinical practices over time, allowing Aspire to provide holistic care to the ever-evolving patient population.

Currently, Aspire operates in six counties across the Hoosier state, providing care to vulnerable populations daily — all due to the rich history and strong roots stemming from The Center for Mental Health and BehaviorCorp and their decades-long dedication to serving Hoosiers.

“Change will always be happening in our industry,” Scott says. “Aspire was a major part of my life. While the work we did impacted individuals and families in many aspects of their lives, it also impacted me in the same way. Those who are currently caring for the people and organization of Aspire simply need to know it is their responsibility at the moment. Give it your all, and then be ready to hand it off to someone in the future — even better than it is right now.”

Progress Continues

Aspire’s evolution continued in 2019 when Aspire Indiana, Inc. and Progress House, Indiana’s oldest and largest recovery residence, took an unprecedented, united step together. Merging together, the two organizations pioneered the Whole Health Recovery Continuum, an innovative recovery model that brings addiction treatment, behavioral healthcare and medical care under one roof.

“The importance and impact of the merger of The Center for Mental Health and Tri-County Mental Health Center and then having Progress House join Aspire cannot be overstated,” DeHaven says. “These decisions gave Aspire combined resources and new energy to adapt and mobilize to meet human and health needs both effectively and efficiently in newer ways.”

The union with Progress House further integrated Aspire’s healthcare model into recovery services, setting a new standard for addiction treatment in Indiana.

With its expansion and continued diversification of services, Aspire, Indiana, Inc. rebranded to Aspire Indiana Health, actively marketing services to the broader public and reflecting its transformation into a full-spectrum healthcare provider. 

Today, Aspire Indiana Health stands as a truly integrated community health system where behavioral health, medical care, recovery services and social support services work in unison and with compassion.

Moving Forward as One Aspire

“I have had the opportunity to work with various leaders of Aspire in my role as a mental health advocate in the Indiana General Assembly and was honored to speak at the grand opening of The Rely Center in Noblesville,” says Indiana State Senator Michael Crider. “More recently, I participated in a forum that led to Aspire being selected to serve the community mental health catchment area for Hancock and Shelby counties in the District I serve as a State Senator. I have noticed the improvement in access to care that is already evident and believe that the crisis stabilization center at the Noblesville location will continue to add value to the citizens close by.”

Moving forward, Aspire is committed to strengthening partnerships with healthcare providers, government agencies and community organizations.

“As the Mobile Crisis Assistance Team (MCAT) Supervisor and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator for the IMPD, I realized early on that the success of our programs is inextricably linked to the strength of our community partners,” says IMPD Sergeant Lance Dardeen. “Our mandate for MCAT is simple yet vital: connect individuals to the mental health services they truly need. By partnering with Aspire, the IMPD has been able to step outside our professional ‘silo’ and create a genuine bridge between our neighbors and the care they deserve.”

Senator Crider, Sergeant Dardeen and Hamilton County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt were all part of Aspire’s opening of The Rely Center — a psychiatric urgent care and stabilization center for people experiencing a mental health and/or substance abuse crisis.

“Six decades of Aspire shows the services provided to the community are valuable and a needed resource given that tenure,” Heirbrandt says. “Antony Sheehan’s leadership has changed the course of how we service our community and is now more impactful than ever before.”

For 60 years, Aspire has blazed the trail for mental healthcare in Indiana, serving thousands of Hoosiers along the way. For the foreseeable future, Aspire will continue to trailblaze by breaking down barriers to care.

“Having served the health needs of thousands of individuals over these 60 years and the potential to serve the total health needs of thousands in the future is very significant to me,” says Duane Hoak, who has been on the Aspire Board of Directors since 1987 when the organization was The Center for Mental Health. “This is strong motivation for me to continue to serve as best I can for the future of Aspire.”

A Word from Antony

Looking back on 60 remarkable years, I am profoundly humbled by the work that we’ve done, and eager for the incredible future that lies before us. You’ve read the words of our visionary leaders, dedicated staff and supportive partners who helped build Aspire Indiana Health. To you all, my eternal thanks.

Our journey from a foundational mental health center to a fully integrated community health system is a true testament to the resilience of the communities we serve and the boundless compassion of our team working together as One Aspire. We know we do not do this work alone, and cannot serve without the support of our local, state and federal partners, from elected officials to colleague organizations.

Most of all, my deepest gratitude goes to every patient who has entrusted us with their care and their recovery. Serving you is why Aspire exists.

As we celebrate this milestone together, we recognize we sit at a critical moment. There is no ignoring the challenges we face in navigating a complex public health model — at a time when Aspire has grown unbelievably in reach, scale and complexity. All of us here, including the CEO, are but temporary custodians of the trust that has been given to us.

Today, we don’t just honor our rich history; we renew our unwavering commitment to treating the whole person, breaking down barriers to care and walking alongside our fellow Hoosiers toward a healthier, brighter future for us all. Here’s to the next 60.

— Antony Sheehan, President & CEO