All throughout 2025, Regional Care Group is celebrating its 50 years of serving Northwest Indiana communities. Regional Health Systems, a Regional Care Group member, is a healthcare provider that offers behavioral health, primary care, addiction treatment, and dental care. What began in 1975 as the Southlake Center for Mental Health has transformed over the past 50 years into one of the largest and most comprehensive, community-based networks in Indiana.
Eric Evans, vice president of business development at Regional Care Group, was pleased to celebrate the 50th anniversary of growth and milestones through a gala that highlighted the impact the organization has had on the community.
“Regional Health Systems has been providing behavioral health care to Lake County for the past five decades, and it’s very exciting for us,” Evans said. “May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so we hosted our Golden Jubilee Gala. During the gala, we were able to recognize a couple of key individuals who helped shape who we are today. The proceeds from this gala also helped support mental health care and long-term residential service that Lake Park Residential Care has to offer for individuals who are homeless or have a low income.”
While 50 years of making a positive difference in the community calls for a celebration, Evans appreciates the way that this organization can reflect on the people who have led them to this point and jumpstarted the success of the Regional Health Systems.
“Recognizing and celebrating everything that has played a part in our success, including the people who have laid the foundation, has been incredible,” Evans said. “It’s been a lot of hard work to impact the community over these past 50 years and really help set the trajectory for building a healthier, more resilient community.”
Regional Health Systems, Geminus, and Lake Park Residential care are the three core entities that make up Regional Care Group. While each provides a unique approach, all parts prioritize a community-based focus.
“Through this collaboration and the connectivity, we’re able to provide more of those wraparound services to support individuals in hopes of preventing them from getting to those crisis situations,” Evans said. “Should a family find themselves in need of support for early childhood, we have a vast array of those types of support available through our early childhood department. We’re always looking and connecting, all while trying to do our best for the community. We want to provide services that are necessary in the community, and that approach allows us to meet our goals. We’re able to continue being a leader in not only the behavioral field but in health care and social services as a whole.”
As Regional Health Systems celebrates 50 years of health care services provided in Northwest Indiana, the organization also looks ahead to improving quality of life for Hoosiers even more in the next 50 years.
“I’ve been with the organization for 17 years, and I’ve seen tremendous progress being made in the access to care,” Evans said. “The variety of services that we’re bringing to the community and making accessible has been amazing. Meeting the needs of the individuals in the community is really what drives us, and it will continue to drive us as we focus on our mission.”
For more information on Regional Care Group, you can visit regionalgroup.care.
