Camarillo State Mental Hospital facts for kids

Camarillo State Hospital was a special hospital in Camarillo, California. It helped people with mental illness and developmental disabilities. The hospital was open for many years, from 1936 to 1997.

Today, the land where the hospital once stood is a university. It is called California State University Channel Islands. The university kept the hospital's beautiful Mission Revival Style architecture. The bell tower is now a symbol for the school.

The Land's Story

The land for Camarillo State Hospital has a long history. In 1848, the United States took over California from Mexico. They promised to respect land claims from Mexican citizens.

The hospital's land was once part of a large ranch called "Rancho Guadalasca." This ranch belonged to Isabel Yorba in 1836.

In 1929, California decided to buy land for a new state hospital. They set aside $1,000,000 for this purpose. Three years later, in 1932, they bought 1,500 acres. This land was part of the Lewis Ranch in Camarillo.

Hospital History

Plans for the new hospital were quickly drawn up. The goal was to house 3,000 patients in the first section. The hospital would cover 200 acres. It would have patient dorms, staff homes, and supply buildings. Eventually, it was planned to hold 7,000 patients and 700 staff members.

The first picture of the hospital appeared in a local newspaper in 1932. In March 1933, 50 male patients arrived. They stayed in a farm home on the ranch. By June 1934, over 100 patients were there.

The hospital officially got its name, Camarillo State Hospital, in May 1933. People who worked there often called it "CAM." It became one of seven state hospitals in California.

Building the Hospital

Construction began on August 15, 1933. This was a big project supported by the Public Works Administration. The total cost was about $10,000,000. When finished, it was the largest mental hospital in the world.

In April 1936, Dr. Thomas W. Haggerty became the hospital's first Superintendent. The hospital officially opened for patients in October 1936. Many important people attended the opening ceremony.

The first patients were adult men. They stayed in the Bell Tower building. In 1937, 300 women patients moved to Camarillo from other hospitals. More patients kept arriving because other hospitals were too full. This led to building a North Complex in 1939. The hospital then had separate areas for male and female patients.

Helping Children and Teens

In 1947, Camarillo State Hospital opened a special ward for children. These children had developmental disabilities. As this program grew, a Children's Treatment Center was built. It opened in January 1955.

By 1957, the hospital had its largest number of patients ever, over 7,000. This was the most people it would care for in its 60 years.

Before 1959, teenagers stayed with adults. In 1959, teen girls, including those with autism, got their own separate area. By 1968, the Adolescent Division was fully separate. It had four treatment units and a special school. In 1970, these units became co-educational, meaning both boys and girls were together.

New Ways of Treatment

In 1967, the hospital started doing two important jobs. It continued to help people with mental illnesses like schizophrenia. It also became a center for people with developmental disabilities. This included conditions like autism and other birth defects that affect learning.

A new law, the Lanterman–Petris–Short Act, started in 1969. This law changed how people could be kept in hospitals. It made sure that decisions to keep someone in the hospital were reviewed often. This law also encouraged people to live outside the hospital if possible.

In 1971, the hospital changed how its staff worked. They created special programs for patients with similar needs. Each program had its own director. Later, in 1976, the hospital got an executive director. New medicines also helped people with mental disabilities live more normal lives. Over time, the hospital's role as a "mental hospital" changed.

In 1983, new treatment ideas began at CAM. Patients could go to activity centers during the day. These centers offered therapy groups and educational programs. These programs used the latest treatment methods. They helped patients based on their individual needs.

By 1985, the hospital had a new goal: "Enhancing Independence Through Innovation." Camarillo changed from a place for lifelong care to a facility that helped people get better. It helped people with mental and developmental challenges return to society. The hospital was like a small town itself. It had its own gardens, dairy, fire department, and even a bowling alley. It also housed some of its staff. The hospital had high ratings in the 1980s and 1990s.

Hospital Closure

The Bell Tower Building (2024) of California State University Channel Islands, which was once part of Camarillo State Hospital.

The hospital closed because of money problems and new ideas about mental health care. In 1967, a law called the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act was signed. This law greatly reduced the number of patients in state hospitals. Many hospitals had to close.

Another reason for closing was in 1996. Governor Pete Wilson created a group to study the hospital. They found that the hospital had only 871 patients in 1996. This was much less than its peak of over 7,000 patients in 1954. Also, the cost to care for each patient was very high. These reasons led to the hospital's official closing on June 30, 1997.

California State University Channel Islands

At first, there was a plan to turn Camarillo into a prison. But people in the community did not want that. The California State Universities system became interested instead. So, the hospital became a university.

California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) opened its doors in Fall 2002. Many of the original 1930s mission-style buildings were saved and updated.