Michelle Ward

Lakeside Behavioral Healthcare is a private, not-for-profit 501(c) 3 charitable organization that provides comprehensive community behavioral healthcare services to the Orange County community. Lakeside began as Mental Health Services of Orange County, a community-based agency formed when four local providers joined together in 1983. During this period of time, government funding for mental health services had been severely reduced. In 1991, Mental Health Services of Orange County adopted the name Lakeside Alternatives to reflect a major reorganization that included a new building, new leadership and new strategies to provide the best care at affordable costs. It provides the least restrictive level of care to create the most appropriate environment for independence and wellness for people living with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders. In 2006, Lakeside Alternatives changed its name to Lakeside Behavioral Healthcare which more clearly reflects the focus of the services provided to the Orange County community.