The First Sixty Years And...

The ‘40s         In 1939, C.S. Mott and his young foundation initiated the Mott Children’s Health Center to serve “borderline medically indigent children of Genesee County.” Providing pediatric and dental care, the Center from the beginning was community based. Located in Hurley Hospital, endorsed and encouraged by the medical and dental professions, it was administered by the Flint Board of Education. 

The ‘50s         Polio, the devastating tornado of 1953 and increasing engagement in child health service and education through the schools marked this time. Arthur L. Tuuri, M.D., who began his career at the Center in 1948, led the institution through this dynamic period that included the expansion of training programs for pediatric residents and specialists in children’s dentistry. The clinical reputation of MCHC was largely cast during this decade.   

The ‘60s         Starting with the Center moving into its own building in 1962, the ‘60s were a period of growth. Programs in child psychiatry, speech and hearing, unwed parenting, family life and maternal/infant health were added. In 1967 all services were put under one roof as an addition to the Center more than tripled the space available. MCHC engagement with the larger community included key roles in massive immunization efforts and a successful campaign to fluoridate the public water supply.

                        Size and complexity led to the Center splitting off from the Flint Board of Education and forming its own corporation. Fleming A. Barbour, M.D., was named chairman of a seven-member board which, in 1968, formed the present private nonprofit corporation.

The ‘70s         A decade of evolution. The Center, working with community partners, moved to a secondary role in maternal health programs, school health, child psychiatry and unwed parent programs. The principle is established: keep programs current with community needs; share program responsibility with service partners; grow community capacity. The Center began to engage other funding partners as well. This enabled prototype programs in the diagnosis of multiple handicapped young children, child abuse treatment programs and methods of finding children with disabilities. Each of these projects served as models for Michigan. The Flint Area Health Foundation, a founding parent to today’s Community Foundation of Greater Flint, also grew out of this period.   

Organizationally, MCHC was transformed from an institution which requested  year-to-year funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to being funded through an endowment initiated by the Foundation and Mott family. The concept of outside evaluation of programs started in this period, first by 25 evaluators from across Michigan and later in the decade using a three-year study team from Harvard University’s School of Public Health.

The ‘80s         The Center had spanned a period from when there was little, if any, governmental support for children’s health to a point where over 75% of children served medically or dentally by MCHC were supported by Medicaid or similar programs. But insurance did not assure access to care. Center services continued to find special areas of unserved: cystic fibrosis, sudden infant death, scoliosis and spina bifida, teen pregnancy, child abuse, early childhood health assessments and services to children who had a parent incarcerated were examples. In the decade, a number of special education services were transferred to schools that had become prepared to handle the programs.

                        Dr. Tuuri moved to the position of president emeritus. Roy E. Peterson, Ph.D., who had been with the Center for nearly 20 years, is named president. During the decade, MCHC initiated regular strategic planning, clarifying its vision, mission and goals. The changing face of children’s health prompts attention to business practices, quality assurance, risk management and computerization while not losing the human touch.   

The ‘90s        The pace of change quickens. MCHC sees more of its programs, services and personnel move into the community. Work in homes, community centers and schools grows to a point where nearly half of its service is delivered outside the Center. The homeless, families with transportation problems, home-based life skills, school students and staff, and new parents illustrate the shift in focus. Government funding and MCHC support allows Hurley Medical Center and other health providers to assume the Center’s pediatric caseload. Dental services continue to grow, including a vibrant pediatric dental residency through the University of Michigan. From the MCHC credibility as a direct service provider and partners has grown a role as a strong child advocate in the community and Michigan.

                        With program development has come an increase in outside funding, with 40% of the Center’s services sponsored by various public and private sources. Dr. Barbour retires as Chairman of the Board of Directors after 28 years. W. Archibald Piper, M.D., a long-time board member, assumes the chair. Dr. Peterson steps down as president, replaced by Velma P. Allen, Ph.D., who had served as vice president of the Center. The Center invests nearly $8 million in renovating the building, making a commitment to serve generations to come. MCHC adopts policies that help assure that programs remain fresh and services continue with high quality for children of the 21^st Century.

The 2000's     The Health Center enters the 21^st Century with Dr. Velma Allen as President leading the development of a new three-year strategic plan. A new department - Child Health Services - assures continued focus on chronic health conditions, health related issues and quality improvement. More attention to early mental health prevention and intervention is reflected in Health Center programming. Partnerships to provide MCHC services in schools and neighborhood-based sites continue to expand. Pediatric Dentistry develops broader partnerships and advocacy efforts while it works to meet growing needs for its services. The Health Center launches its Web Site and expands education and information services. MCHC continues to lead and/or support collaborative initatives to address issues relevant to our child health goals.