A Brief History of the Betty Ford Center
Susan Ford Bales, Chairman and Betty Ford, Founder.
Susan was responsible for organizing the intervention which led to Mrs. Ford going to treatment.
The history of the Betty Ford Center is part of the life story
of our founder, former First Lady Betty Ford. After completing
her own treatment for chemical dependency at the U.S. Naval
Hospital in Long Beach, Mrs. Ford talked to her friends about
the need for a treatment center that emphasized the special
needs of women. Her good friend, Ambassador Leonard Firestone,
encouraged Mrs. Ford to pursue her dream and in 1982, they
co-founded the non-profit Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage,
California.
From its earliest days, the Betty Ford Center has
treated women and men suffering from chemical dependency. The
Center has always saved 50% of its space for women and 50%
for men. Treatment is gender-specific; women and men reside
in separate halls. Today the Betty Ford Center offers programs for
the entire family system affected by addiction.
All family members are deeply affected when one family member
is chemically dependent. Family members are offered support
and education through our five-day Family
Program. The Children's Program is
for children ages 7 to 12 who are not themselves addicted,
but are living with chemically dependent family members. Visit
our Kids' Corner to find
out more.
For more about Betty Ford and her life history, visit the
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum on-line at: www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov.
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