The Davis Enterprise

Pine Tree Gardens merges with Sacramento nonprofit

By Elisabeth Sherwin/Enterprise staff writer

Then: Pine Tree Gardens was founded by Pat and Bill Williams of Davis in 1986 in response to what the Williams family saw as an unmet need in caring for mentally ill teenagers and adults.

Now: Pine Tree Gardens began with one board-and-care home and has grown to two residential treatment facilities, eight supported apartments, a six-bedroom student house and an out-patient day treatment program. After 20 years of service, and after establishing a statewide reputation for excellence, Pine Tree Gardens is merging with a Sacramento psychiatric program called Turning Point.

“I couldn't imagine giving up the name Pine Tree Gardens,” John Buck, chief executive officer of Turning Point, on a visit to Davis last Thursday.

“Pine Tree Gardens has a fine reputation statewide due to Pat's passion for having people with psychiatric disabilities served in the local community and due to the quality of treatment,” Buck added.

Pat Williams, now a widow who lives at the University Retirement Community, met Buck at the Williams Building in Davis for a brief visit. She is pleased with the upcoming merger.

“It's just wonderful,” she said. “It safeguards Pine Tree Gardens and I feel very good about it.”

Oroville resident Melissa Culloty, the acting executive director of Pine Tree Gardens, now comes to Davis about three times a week to oversee the transition. In a letter sent last month to friends and supporters of Pine Tree Gardens, Culloty said the merger with the Sacramento-based nonprofit would take place early this year.

“The merger with Turning Point will bring an economy of scale that PTG would never be able to accomplish on its own,” she said. “(But) our direct staff care will remain the same as well as the Pine Tree Gardens name.”

And Culloty also had high praise for the new owner, Buck.

Culloty has a favorite phrase she likes to reserve for her clients, which indicates her level of commitment.

“Whatever it takes,” she says. “Whatever it takes.”

“I stole that phrase directly from John Buck,” she said. “I have the utmost faith that Pine Tree Gardens will grow and flourish under his leadership.”

The Pine Tree Garden board of directors approved the merger in concept on Dec. 20.

Corky Brown, longtime Davis resident, is the president of the board.

“Pine Tree Gardens has a great reputation and we want to keep that going,” he said in a recent interview.

Brown says the PTG model is particularly successful helping younger people who can be assisted effectively if their disability is spotted in time.

“The whole secret of mental health is getting clients treatment early so they don't have relapses,” he said. “And Pat is the Mother Teresa of mental health. Before PTG, kids had to go out of county for long-term residential care.

“We are absolutely happy with the merger and, as a result, Pine Tree Gardens will be stronger,” he added. “It's a win-win providing more opportunities for treatment and we as a board are very happy.”

- Reach Elisabeth Sherwin at gizmo@dcn.org