Crider Health Center has been serving the mental health needs of Franklin, Lincoln, Warren, and St. Charles County residents since 1979. The organization began in 1978 when local citizens incorporated the Mental Health Council of Lincoln, Warren and St. Charles County in response to increasing needs for community mental health services. In 1980, the Franklin County Mental Health Council was established and delivered services until January1, 1982, when it became part of Four County Mental Health Services. Four County Mental Health Services then became the administrative agent for state supported mental health service delivery in this growing four-county area. through the Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services, Missouri Department of Mental Health.

In 1994, Four County Mental Health Services moved its administrative offices and outpatient clinic from St. Charles to Wentzville in order to physically become more central to the four county area it served. At that time, the name of this organization was changed to Crider Center for Mental Health.

Crider Center has expanded its service delivery programs significantly since its inception to meet the rapidly changing expectations in the arena of mental health service delivery and to consistently meet its mission.

In 2007 the Board of Directors voted to expand Crider Center for Mental Health mission, to include primary health care. Therefore, in April 2007 the name was changed to Crider Health Center. Over the next several years Crider Center will be transformed into a community health center. According to Karl Wilson, Ph. D. President/CEO Crider Health Center, "by integrating mental health care and primary healthcare we will be better able to serve our consumers. As part of the transformation, Crider Center will also be pursuing the designation of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)." A FQHC is a health care provider that serves medically underserved population those primarily with Medicaid or without insurance. A medical director and dental services are already being planned, with other services to services to be developed and implemented

Today, over 35,000 residents in the four-county area benefit each year from Crider Health Center program services.