For more than a year, the Boundless leadership team has been dreaming.

We dream of a campus home to a best-in-class facility for the treatment of children and youth with autism — one designed from foundation to roof to complement our extraordinary Boundless Behavioral Health team and their innovative, life-changing programs.

We dream of a park-like campus, lined with walking trails and a lush tree canopy that provides beauty, shade, and homes for birds, squirrels, deer, and all manner of animals. A gathering space treasured by our entire community, where neighbors walk paths with their families in the evenings, guests arrive for conferences and special events, and the adults we serve throughout Central Ohio come and are welcomed into an inclusive environment.

We dream of welcoming partners who share our vision and values on our 45-acres campus to create something special for Worthington and beyond.

In recent weeks, our dream has begun to become real. While we have a very long way to go, we’ve taken our first steps by completing a master planning process and identified partners who share our dream.

To aid in the communication of our progress, we have created the Boundless Future web page, and invite you to check back frequently. As we have news to share, we’ll be sure to post it here. You can even sign up and submit questions or comments – we’d love to hear from you.

Thank you for your interest in our dream. We look forward to you joining us on this journey.

1916-19

Harding Hospital, known as Columbus Rural Rest Home, was founded in 1916 by George T Harding II, MD. Originally located in Columbus, the hospital moved to its fifty-acre Worthington campus in 1919.

1950s

The 1950’s was a new era in psychiatric care. New drug treatments were introduced when traditional methods no longer seemed effective. A new Day Treatment Program began with patients living at home in supervised halfway houses, a more efficient alternative to in-patient hospitalization.

1960-70

In the 60’s and 70’s, Dr. George T. Harding IV started a number of community based educational and public service programs, through the Franklin County Mental Health Board. In a co-operative program with the Worthington schools, a branch campus was established on the hospital grounds. A twenty-four-hour mental health emergency services program was also created in collaboration with community agencies.

1981

Demolition of the Harding Lodge.

1999

Harding Hospital campus became a part of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical campus.

2014

Step-by-Step purchases the site from Ohio State, utilizing portions of the facility to provide mental health services.

2017

I Am Boundless, Inc.  — previously known as Franklin County Residential Services —  joined Step-by-Step. Boundless is a nonprofit  providing person-centered care to children, adults, and families with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or behavioral health challenges.