Who We Are
Our Story
Momentum for Health has a long history of serving our community’s behavioral health needs. While the organization has evolved, we’re still driven by the same core beliefs: everyone is unique, everyone can change, and everyone deserves respect and care.
1950s
In the 1950s, the default treatment for mental illness was hospitalization in an asylum. In 1957, more than 36,000 people lived in California’s state hospitals, and many were admitted without due process. Over time, research showed that institutional treatment was ineffective and even harmful for many people, and public opinion about mental illness began to change. Meanwhile, scientists developed medications that allowed more people to receive treatment in their communities.
1953
Avenues to Mental Health, founded as a Rehabilitation Planning Committee for Agnews State Mental Hospital, was a pioneer in behavioral health care and one of the three agencies that would later go on to form Momentum for Health. Avenues to Mental Health opened California’s first “halfway house” and first co-ed residential program—the earliest alternative to mental hospital admission.
Late 1950s
Lawmakers and health care providers begin to transition the system from hospital-based care to community-based care based on two key ideas: Most people can receive mental health care in the community setting, and offering services in the community helps people seek treatment sooner and achieve a fuller recovery.
1957
The passing of the act transformed the funding and provision of mental health care by providing matching state funds.
1962
Miramonte Mental Health Services, one of Momentum’s founding agencies, began in 1962 as a day treatment center in Palo Alto. Its impactful programs included the Family Group Project for families of individuals with mental illness, a satellite housing program to support re-entry into the community, and a vocational and employment services program to help clients return to work.
1968
The Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) expanded funding and required California counties with over 100,000 residents to launch mental health programs. LPS also required a judicial hearing to determine whether a person could be involuntarily hospitalized.
1973
Community Companions, the third agency that would help form Momentum for Health, was founded in 1973 as a merger between two other organizations, Community Friends and Companions. The agency worked to pair volunteers with people who had serious mental illnesses, fostering friendships and support systems. They focused on the downtown and east side of San Jose, offering a large outpatient mental health program, Mission Valley House, and a mobile clinic.
1996
Perma Housing was a local mental health agency providing housing options for people with mental health conditions. The merger represented an expansion of mental health services and a “housing first” approach–the idea that recovery is only possible with stable, safe housing.
Between 1957 and 1984, the California state hospital population dropped by 84%.
Late 1990s
By the end of the millennium, Santa Clara County’s mental health care system had grown significantly. The system was becoming fragmented, with several agencies in the county doing similar work. To streamline operations and expand access, Avenues to Mental Health, Miramonte Mental Health, and Community Companions merged in 1997 to form Alliance for Community Care. The merger allowed the new organization to serve our community more effectively by:
- Delivering more accessible, culturally competent,...
2007
Alliance for Community Care continued to serve our community’s needs for the next decade. In 2007, we rebranded to Momentum for Mental Health, reflecting our clients’ courage and determination to move forward through recovery and beyond.
2010s
Throughout the 2010s, we expanded to provide care for co-occurring conditions, offering both mental health and substance use treatment. In 2020, in response to this change in services, we changed our name to Momentum for Health, reflecting our focus on the overall health and well-being of our clients. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued to serve our community, with safety top of mind, and adapted to virtual treatment options such as telehealth.
2023
Parisi House on the Hill is a longtime collaborator and one of Santa Clara County’s only residential treatment facilities for pregnant women and mothers to receive substance use treatment while keeping their babies and young children with them for the duration. This merger represents an important expansion of care and a broader array of services for both Momentum and Parisi House clients.
Today
Momentum for Health is one of Santa Clara County’s largest providers of behavioral health services. We offer a range of programs that meet people where they are, acknowledging that recovery looks different for everyone.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, we’re building on our legacy of innovation, with new treatment options and a robust continuum of care. We also continue to advocate within our community, breaking down stigmas around behavioral health conditions and encouraging more conversations about mental health and substance use.
Just as we did so many years ago, we partner with each client at every step of their recovery and beyond.