Our History
Providing years of service and care to Lincoln and the Midwest
Bryan Independence Center began serving clients in 1971 in the Professional Office Building just to the east of Lincoln General Hospital.
In those early days, the program was called the Chemical Dependency Unit or CDU. In 1976 the services were moved a new location on Lake Street. It was at this time that the name "Independence Center" was established.
From 1971 until 1981 services were offered only for adult clients. In 1981 a separate adolescent unit was initiated and in 1990 both the adolescent and adult services united in the facility at 1650 Lake Street.
In 2014, the Bryan Independence Center moved into a new facility at 1640 Lake Street, thanks to the generosity of donors. This new facility allows us to continue to provide the highest quality care to our clients and their families, and to the entire community.
Bryan Independence Center History
Bryan Independence Center History
- 1971 - Chemical Dependency Unit (CDU) opens on 1st floor of the Professional Office Building
Marty Heist, 1st Director
Mary Caudy, 1st Counselor
- 1972 - John Allen, 2nd Director
CDU moves to 5th floor of Lincoln General Hospital
- 1973 - Ron Namuth, 3rd Director
Outpatient Services begins
- 1974 - Advisory Committee formed
- 1975 - Alumni Association starts
Volunteer organization starts
Aftercare Services starts
CDU expands to two units within the hospital
- 1976 - CDU moves to current building and is named the "Independence Center"
Professional Intervention Service starts
Family Intervention starts
- 1978 - Day Care Service starts
Full-time Chaplain starts
Grant received from Burlington Northern for Family Care program
- 1979 - Evening Care Services starts
Family Care Service starts
Psychologist is added to staff
Detoxification Services Unit opens (and eventually becomes Cornhusker Place)
Volunteer Coordinator is added to staff
- 1980 - 3rd Floor of Independence Center renovated
Intervention Nurse Service starts
- 1981 - Youth Treatment Center starts, Malcolm Heard is Director
Women's program starts
10th Year Anniversary - Former First Lady Betty Ford, singer Gordon MacRae, Dr. Joseph Cruse of
Eisenhower Medical Center, Calif., John Doyle of the National Council on Alcoholism and actor David Doyle are guests
- 1983 - 1st Annual Chili Feed
- 1985 - 1st Alumni Association Newsletter
Participates in Star City Parade
- 1988 - Independence Center rated one of nation's top Drug/Alcohol Treatment Centers in book by Stan Hart
- 1990 - Youth Center Treatment and Adult Treatment merge in the current Independence Center facility
- 1992 - Duke Engel, 4th Director
- 1996 - 25th Year Anniversary - Singer Larry Gatlin, John Lucas and Alex Cole are guests
Treatment Loans Initiated by Advisory Committee & Alumni Association
- 1999 - Jerome Barry, 5th and current Director
- 2000 - Treatment Loan Criteria revised to increase volume of loans
- 2001 - Juvenile Drug Court Treatment Contract
Alumni purchase lobby sculpture depicting an addict
- 2002 - Security cameras installed throughout the facility
- 2006 - Family Program redesigned
Psychiatric Hospitalist Program initiated
- 2011 - 40th Year Anniversary
- 2014 - Moved into our New Facility
