2023 is an exciting year for PRS – we are celebrating 60 years of changing and saving lives!

PRS started in 1963 as a social program to assist recently discharged patients from Western State Hospital. Over our 60-year history, PRS has grown from those humble beginnings to providing a broad continuum of behavioral health and crisis and suicide intervention services.

We look forward to celebrating our collective successes with you this year! Keep an eye out for upcoming events on this page, Facebook, and Instagram!

PRS History

1963

The Northern Virginia Mental Health Association instituted a social program to assist recently discharged patients from Western State Hospital. Vera Mellen developed the program with government assistance and transitional funding from Service League of Northern Virginia (now the Junior League of Northern Virginia). The program evolved into a clubhouse where participants (then called members) could be more than just patients in a clinic.

1970

The program was incorporated in Virginia as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and was officially named The Social Center. The Board of Directors opened the first satellite program in Mt. Vernon.

1974

A third center opened in the Springfield area. By this year, the original program had grown from serving fewer than a dozen individuals with one staff member and a few volunteers to an agency serving over 300 individuals with a professional staff of 19.

1982

The two satellite programs in Mt. Vernon and Springfield combined in a Fairfax South County facility.

1983

The Board of Directors decided to change the name from The Social Center to The Social Center of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, known more informally as the Social Rehab Center.

1989

The agency provided a range of rehabilitative skill training and support services including vocational, educational, case management, recreational and other services to over 400 individuals.

1992

The agency opened another center, the Reston-Faraday Clubhouse, with support from the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB).

1994

The Board of Directors endorsed an agency-wide effort to ‘Secure the Future’ which included the adoption of a new Mission, Vision, and Values statements, as well as increased fundraising efforts. Efforts included a direct mail “Friendship Campaign” appeal, affiliation with the United Way of the National Capital Area, the highly successful annual Kentucky Derby Party and a continuous examination and improvement of the agency’s strategic plan.

The Board changed the agency’s name to Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services to better reflect the ever-changing scope and nature of program activities. Later, the formal name was shortened to PRS.

1998

Founder Vera Mellen retired after 35 years, and Wendy Gradison was hired to succeed her.

2002

PRS’ opened an Intensive Supported Housing Program providing a non-time limited residence with 24/7 staffing for eight clients who need full-time, intensive supports, expanding PRS’ existing Community Housing Program of four townhomes, two of which were opened in 1994 and two in 1995, offering housing and day-time support to a total of 12 clients.

PRS formalized the utilization of the Choose-Get-Keep Model of supported employment and numbers served continued to grow along with successful client outcomes. By 2013, Employment Services served 502 clients. A remarkable 89% of clients receiving Employment Services who were employed on July 1, 2012 retained their employment for 12 months or longer.

2009

PRS consolidated the PRS Reston and PRS Falls Church Day Programs into PRS Tysons.

PRS Board of Directors and Leadership Team launched an extensive, two-year Strategic Planning effort. A metrics-based method of service evaluation was developed.

2010

An agency-wide balanced scorecard provided strategic measures by which the Leadership Team evaluated and improved its customer service delivery, financial stability, infrastructure processes and systems, and employee well-being and satisfaction.

2011

PRS Board of Directors expanded the populations served to include persons with emotional and/or behavioral disorders irrespective of a diagnosis of mental illness. Thus, PRS began providing services to individuals with mild intellectual disabilities, substance use disorders and pervasive developmental disorders, including persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

PRS was named by the NonProfit Times as one the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For in the United States. PRS has since received this recognition 11 times.[JG1] 

2013

177 clients were receiving services through PRS Community Support Services (formerly called Home-based Support Services). 100% of Community Support and Community Housing clients remained in their housing, avoiding eviction and homelessness.

2014

PRS and CrisisLink merged to transform the delivery of mental health services in response to the community’s growing needs and the changing mental health landscape. PRS CrisisLink is now a core program of PRS, delivering crisis intervention and suicide prevention services across Virginia and nationally.

2015

PRS CrisisLink received a five-year accreditation from the American Association of Suicidology, the highest level possible.

2018

PRS rebranded its logo and tagline after 55 years and PRS Headquarters and Fairfax Recovery Academy move to new locations.

2019

PRS CrisisLink was selected as a Core Chat Center and National Back-up Center by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL).

2020

PRS Chief Executive Officer Wendy Gradison retired after 22 years of service, and PRS Chief Operating Officer, Joseph Getch, was selected as PRS’ next Chief Executive Officer.

PRS initiated the COVID Behavioral Health Fund to support those we serve during the pandemic.

2021

PRS began providing Family Peer Support Partner (FPSP) services, supporting families with children with mental health and substance use disorders.

PRS partnered with local nonprofit Access Hope to provide outpatient mental health services to uninsured individuals in our community.

PRS CrisisLink awarded contracts to operate as the Regional Crisis Call Center in four of Virginia’s five Health Planning Regions.

PRS expanded fundraising efforts by establishing the Corporate Partner Program and an annual Golf Tournament. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, PRS pivots and successfully holds its annual fundraising benefit, Imagine Hope, virtually.

2022

PRS earned renewed, three-year CARF (Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation.

PRS Chief Clinical Officer, Mary Brown, retired after 35 years, and PRS Director of Community Support Services, Laura Fonner, was selected as PRS’ next Chief Clinical Officer.

2023

PRS celebrates 60 years of service!