Was Baker College of Muskegon an insane asylum?
Answer
The Baker College of Muskegon buildings were formerly the Muskegon Regional Center for Developmental Disabilities.
- The Muskegon Regional Center was a facility with about 150 residents which opened in 1969 and closed in 1992.
- In March of 1985 children housed at the Muskegon Regional Center for Developmental Disabilities were placed in foster homes. This provided a family atmosphere for the children and took a step towards emptying the state institution, according to a website article about Mental Health in Muskegon County.
- In the 1990s mentally ill and mentally/physically challenged adults began to be treated in group homes instead of large institutions.
An article from the Grand Rapids Business Journal explains how individuals with developmental issues are now integrated into the community instead of being housed at the Muskegon Regional Center.
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