Wisconsin. Division of Mental Hygiene

Under Chap. 9, Laws of the Special Session of 1937, a Dept. of Mental Hygiene was established. It was abolished in 1939 and a Division of Mental Hygiene was created in 1939 within the new State Department of Public Welfare (WIHV85-A488). The division was responsible for supervising the state's hospitals for the mentally ill and institutions for the mentally defective. With reorganization of state government in 1967, the division was placed in the Department of Health and Social Services (WIHV85-A694). With reorganization of the department in 1977, the division was abolished. Its functions were moved to the new Division of Community Services (WIHV85-A282). In the Wisconsin State Archives' database, the above form of the agency name is used for all these mental hygiene offices which existed between 1937 and 1977.

The Division executed the laws relating to the custody, care, and treatment of mentally ill, mentally infirm, and mentally deficient persons; inebriates; and drug addicts. The program included the operation of 3 mental hospitals; 3 colonies and training schools for the mentally retarded; 2 institutions which provided special diagnostic, consultant, research, and treatment services; and financial aid and consultation to community mental health clinics, local day care centers, and county mental hospitals.

From the description of Agency history record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145779670