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Our Story

Helen Ross McNabb

Seventy years ago, a determined Helen Ross McNabb made an appeal to the Knoxville City Council for funds to help open a mental health agency for children. At this time, there was a great need, but little attention given to those suffering with mental illnesses. Due to her persuasive efforts, one of the first community mental health clinics was established in the state of Tennessee. The agency was first created for children but quickly grew to also serve adults in 1955. The clinic opened in a house near the University of Tennessee campus in 1948.

The Center's Growth

In 1953 the small center took the opportunity to become independent of the City Health Department and became a non-profit corporation under its own board of directors. Adult services were officially added in 1955. Throughout the following decades, the Center provided comprehensive community mental health services. When necessary, the Center would operate neighborhood satellite clinics to provide onsite services to outlying areas. It has always been the history of the Center to find ways to serve those in the community who have no advocates and no means to serve themselves.

The Mcnabb CenterBy The Numbers

45,000

In 2023 alone, The McNabb Center served more than 45,00 children and adults

37,389

This past year, 1,345 volunteers contributed 37,389 service hours

1,300

Nearly 1,300 professionals dedicated to our mission

289

289 Housing Units

30

30 East Tennessee Counties Served

15

15 Outpatient Mental Health Centers

97% of children receiving school based services maintained or improved functioning as evident by evidence based assessment scores.

93% of individuals receiving medication assisted treatment showed improvement in symptoms/functioning as evident by evidence based assessment scores.

100% of individuals served by the Workforce Support program completed an application for employment within the first two months of enrollment.

99% of individuals served by the Hamblen Jail to Work program obtained employment within nine weeks of enrollment in the program.

Meet Our TeamOur Executive Staff

Mona Blanton-Kitts

President & CEO

Candace Allen

Clinical Vice President

Jill Barnes

Vice President of Human Resources

Stephanie Carter

Senior Vice President of Operations

Paula Hudson

Vice President of Organizational Excellence

Leann Human-Hilliard

Executive Vice President

Janet Jenkins

Vice President of Organizational Culture and Advancement

Mary Katsikas

Executive Vice President

Jason Lay

Chief Financial Officer & Vice President

Gayle Lodato

Vice President

Dr. Dovile Paulauskas

Chief Medical Officer

Houston Smelcer

Senior Vice President of Development & Government Relations

Michael Waltke

Vice President of Organizational Excellence and Strategic Initiatives

Meet Our TeamOur Board of Directors

Mr. Whit Addicks

Mr. Robbie Arrington

Dr. Rebecca Ashford

Mrs. Eden McNabb Bishop

Mr. Wade Davies

Mrs. Missy Drinnon

Dr. Jerry Epps

Mr. David Hall

Mr. George Kershaw

Mr. Brian Rauch

Mrs. Cheryl Rice

Mr. David Roddy

Mrs. Cindy Sexton

Mrs. Laura Shamiyeh

Mr. Mitch Steenrod

Mrs. Traci Topham

Mr. Carl Van Hoozier

Mr. Clarence Vaughn

Mr. Mickey Wade

Mr. David Wedekind

Ms. Andrea White

CARF logo

The McNabb Center is CARF accredited.

The McNabb Center is a CARF International accredited agency. CARF International accreditation demonstrates a program's quality, transparency, and commitment to the satisfaction of the persons served.

Professional Memberships

MHCA - Leaders in Community Health Solutions National Council for Behavioral Health Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and other Addiction Services Tennessee Alliance for Children and Families Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations

Our Funding Partners

TennCare United Way University of Tennessee Medical Center Helen Ross McNabb Foundation University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee Department of Children's Services Trinity Health Foundation Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Tennessee Housing Development Agency Knoxville's Community Development Corporation