Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation History
You may not think that creating a humane, healing environment for people with addiction is a remarkable concept. But the approach was almost unheard of decades ago when the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation came to be.
Established in 1949 on lakeside acreage in Center City, Minnesota, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation had its beginnings in a compassionate, holistic and forward-thinking approach to the disease of alcoholism. You could say the approach was ahead of its time.
Why? Two words: dignity and respect. A promotional brochure from the organization’s earliest days shows photographs of the farmhouse-turned-treatment center—a wood-paneled library, the gracious dining room and a bright sunroom. Even more than these warm and welcoming images, the brochure’s messaging offered a new kind of understanding and encouragement: “Alcoholism is recognized at Hazelden for what it is—a disease—and not a moral deficiency.”
Remember, this was in 1949. In those days, people with addiction were seen as lacking character and willpower. Two options existed for “the chronic inebriate” in Minnesota: a psychiatric ward in where addiction was viewed as more of a complicating factor than an actual disorder, or the institutional environment of a state hospital.
By contrast, Hazelden opened on the banks of South Center Lake as a refuge for “the convalescent alcoholic”—a place of nature strolls, easy chairs, long conversations over coffee and a holistic approach to healing the body, mind and spirit.
Today, in harnessing science, love and the wisdom of lived experience, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a force of healing and hope across the country and around the world for families and communities affected by substance use and mental health conditions.
The Foundation’s legacy began in 1949 and advanced with the 1982 founding of the iconic Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California. As the nation's foremost nonprofit provider of comprehensive behavioral healthcare, Hazelden Betty Ford now has treatment centers and telehealth services nationwide as well as a network of collaborators throughout health care.
In addition to clinical care, Hazelden Betty Ford encompasses a graduate school of addiction studies, a publishing division, a research center, thought leadership and advocacy, professional and medical education programs, school-based prevention resources and a specialized program for children—with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in all of our endeavors.
How the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's History of Innovation Shaped the Field of Addiction Treatment and Recovery
1949
Dignity and Respect. Hazelden Foundation opens in Center City, Minnesota; AA's Twelve Steps and respect for each patient are core aspects of care.
1950
Documenting Effectiveness. Hazelden reports serving 156 men in first 20 months, noting 78 percent "have recovered and demonstrated marked progress."
1953
Sober Living Model. Fellowship Club opens in St. Paul, Minnesota, a halfway house for men that advances the concept of sober-living residences.
1954
Self-Help Books. Hazelden enters the publishing industry by acquiring Twenty-Four Hours a Day; helps to launch the self-help literature genre.
1956
Care for Women. Dia Linn opens in Dellwood, Minnesota, one of the first residential addiction treatment centers designed for women.
1957
Substance Dependence. Hazelden coins the term "chemical dependency," broadening its scope to treat all substance dependencies—not just alcohol.
1961
Multidisciplinary Approach. Psychology is integrated into treatment, initiating development of the multidisciplinary "Minnesota Model" emulated worldwide.
1963
Training Treatment Professionals. Counselor training program begins; leads to establishment of Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies in 1999.
1964
Therapeutic Community Design. Major expansion positions patient units around a central administration hub; innovative design is widely emulated in health care.
1965
Spiritual Care. Full-time chaplain joins staff, solidifying non-religious spiritual care as a key component of multidisciplinary treatment.
1966
Family Healing. Family conferences are incorporated into care, paving the way for a formal Family Program, launched in 1972.
1967
Relapse Prevention. The first formal aftercare program introduced, advancing the chronic-illness treatment model.
1969
Research-Informed Care. Hazelden launches its first formal outcomes study; leads to establishment of the Butler Center for Research in 1977.
1972
Professionals in Residence. Program brings professionals to campus to shadow clinicians and patients; Summer Institute for Medical Students begins in 1988.
1974
Standard Bearer. Hazelden accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals; demonstrates commitment to quality standards commensurate with all of health care.
1976
Outpatient Services. Partnership with local hospital brings Hazelden's first outpatient program to St. Paul; new level of care meets treatment needs of more people.
1981
Specialty Care for Teens. Pioneer House in Plymouth, Minnesota, is acquired as a specialized treatment center for adolescents and young adults.
1982
First Lady of Recovery. Betty Ford Center opens in Rancho Mirage, California, bringing unprecedented visibility to addiction, treatment and recovery.
1984
Recovery Retreats. Renewal Center opens, welcoming guests to an unrivaled roster of Twelve Step inspired retreats and workshops.
1994
Bold Advocacy. Former First Ladies Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter lobby together in Washington, DC, to promote treatment; Betty Ford Center and Hazelden have influential public policy role from this point forward.
1996
Brave New World. Hazelden web page arrives on the Internet, exponentially increasing access to information about addiction and access to help.
1997
For the Kids. Betty Ford Center develops a pioneering Children's Program, distinguished for prevention effectiveness in landmark 2004 study.
2000
Care for Caregivers. Betty Ford Center launches a Health Care Professionals treatment program focusing on return-to-practice and other specific recovery issues.
2006
Web-Based Recovery Support. Hazelden implements My Ongoing Recovery Experience (MORE®), a web-based patient portal to continuing care resources.
2010
Instance Encouragement. Hazelden Publishing releases its first mobile app, Twenty-Four Hours a Day, introducing anywhere/anytime recovery support, motivation and affirmation.
2012
Medication-Assisted Recovery. Clinicians develop what becomes the field's leading opioid addiction treatment protocol, Comprehensive Opioid Response with the Twelve Steps, COR-12®.
2014
A Force of Healing and Hope. Hazelden and Betty Ford Center merge to form the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the nation's leading nonprofit addiction treatment provider.
2015
Medical School Curriculum. Course on Addiction and Recovery Education (CARE) launches, a first-ever online curriculum for medical students worldwide.
2016
Addressing an Occupational Hazard. Groundbreaking study conducted with ABA on substance use disorders among legal professionals informs recovery efforts specific to this population.
2017
Clinical Collaboration. The Hazelden Betty Ford Patient Care Network forms; a first-in-the field collaboration among health care organizations to improve patient outcomes.
2018
Industry Reform. In testimony before a U.S. House Committee, president and CEO Mark G. Mishek makes the case for stronger quality standards in the addiction treatment industry.
2019
Genetics and Treatment. Collaborative research project begins with Mayo Clinic to identify biological markers that would predict a patient's response to a medication used in treatment of alcohol use disorder.
TODAY
The innovation continues. As science further reveals the dynamics of addiction, technology allows for increasingly individualized care, and outpatient growth makes care more accessible to more people, treatment at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation continues to evolve—always leading with the respect and dignity that have set our care apart from the beginning.
Download the pdf version of the Hazelden Betty Ford historical timeline.
The Life and Legend of First Lady Betty Ford
With touching commentary from Larry King, Tom Brokaw, Katie Couric, presidents Gerald Ford and George Bush Sr., among many others, witness the heroic journey of First Lady Betty Ford, including her battle with breast cancer and her revolutionary public announcements about her addiction to alcohol. Mrs. Betty Ford reshaped recovery for generations to come—shattering stigma, advocating for children and families, and demanding new treatment programs that would respect and empower all people on their path to recovery.
