About Telecare
History & Philosophy
Telecare was founded in 1965 by Art Gladman, a psychiatrist, Lida Hahn, a psychiatric nurse and Morton Bakar, a businessman -- three individuals who were committed to a belief in the rehabilitation potential of people with serious mental illness.
They believed that clients could achieve better results when they received services that were individualized, focused, and provided in a more home-like setting. They placed the client at the center of the organization, and created a culture where employees and clients were supported in reaching their full potential. Their vision still guides Telecare today and is carried on by Anne Bakar, Telecare's President and CEO, and daughter of founder Morton Bakar.
While Telecare has evolved over the years to address the changing needs of the people we serve, our overarching goal remains the same. Our mission is to provide excellent services and systems of care for people with serious mental illness. We exist to help people realize their full potential.
Telecare Today
Today, Telecare is one of the largest providers of adult mental health services in the country. Based in Alameda, California, Telecare now has over 2,200 employees in programs across California, Oregon, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas and Washington.
Clients & Services
Telecare specializes in providing services and supports for individuals with serious mental illness. In many cases, these individuals also suffer from co-occurring disorders including substance abuse issues, developmental disabilities, or have medical challenges associated with aging. Many Telecare clients have been homeless or have had contact with the criminal justice system.
Telecare provides a full spectrum of services. Our programs include acute and sub-acute inpatient services, and community-based care services including assertive community treatment, crisis stabilization, case management and residential programs.
Customers & Payors
Telecare contracts with a variety of agencies and organizations that provide the funding to operate our programs. These include public mental health agencies, private behavioral health organizations, private hospital systems, developmental disability systems and the criminal justice system.
Culture & Values
Telecare is an employee-and family-owned organization, with a culture that is open and inclusive. Diversity is one of our strengths -- whether in age, race, gender, culture, religion, language, sexual orientation, ancestry or beliefs. Employees and clients bring their unique life experiences and perspectives to this work, making it richer and more meaningful for us all.
As an organization, we are guided by our core values of security, growth and partnership. We believe these things help Telecare to provide outstanding services, create great places to work, and build for a brighter future.
- Security is having a sense of groundedness and solidity, of having a secure foundation to grow from.
- Growth is the ability to learn, achieve, challenge ourselves, and reach beyond our old limits.
- Partnership is to be of service, to be a part of something, and to collaborate and share our own knowledge and experience to a greater purpose.