2001 - Willie Bethune retires, and Murry Chesson becomes Executive Director. The staff now totals 220, and the Center serves 7500 individuals a year. The Housing Program has grown into the largest in the State, and the school-based program has 30 staff members.
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2002 - Group Assisted Living Alternative (GALA), a high-management CRCF is opened in Georgetown County to serve as a transition opportunity for clients being released from hospitalization back into the community. The Hemmingway satellite office closes.
2005 - Good Samaritan, a CRCF, opens in Williamsburg County. The Choppee site becomes Choppee Health Center providing integrated treatment services. The Center continues a focus on development of contract services with school systems, primary healthcare, justice systems, and others.
2006 - The Kingstree Clinic moves into a new (rented) facility. The school-based program now has 50 staff in all three counties. The COSIG Grant begins, developing a program to provide services to individuals with a dual diagnosis (substance abuse and behavioral health.) The Center initiates electronic medical records.
2008 - Group Assisted Living Alternative (GALA) a Center CRCF, closes as State funding is reduced. The Georgetown school-based program is reduced due to a cessation of School district funding. The Loris satellite office closes. The Center website is initiated. The Center Director of WCMH also assumes duties as Interim
Director of Tri-County Community Mental Health Center, and some other administrative activities are shared between those Centers.
2010 - As the SCDMH copes with severe budget cuts, the Centers' staff has been reduced to 175. The HOST (Helping Students Transcend Successfully) building closes in Georgetown. The FIS (Family Intervention Services) building closes in Williamsburg County. Outpatient services are ended at the Choppee site. School-based staff in Horry County is reduced, as the Horry County Schools cease funding for the program due to budget concerns. The Center partners with the University of South Carolina on a grant to establish School-based services as a best practice. A DJJ grant is implemented, as is a contract with Little River Medical Center to provide outpatient staff at their location. The Center undergoes it's forth CARF accreditation process. All core services remain in place as of January, 2011.
