Our Founder William (Hobie) Hawthorne

It is with profound sadness that we announce that CRF’s Founder and former CEO, William (Hobie) Hawthorne, PhD, passed away on June 10, 2024 due to complications associated with his long battle with esophageal cancer. A mentor to so many of us and a giant in the field of evidence-based community mental health and psychosocial rehabilitation services, he will be sorely missed. He inspired us, and we are so grateful for his vision, belief in recovery and insistence upon treating clients as they want to be treated. He challenged us all to be the best we can be and to stand up for the work that we do, despite the challenges. We find ourselves quoting him often. His spirit will live on in the work CRF does.

About Dr. Hawthorne

Hobie founded CRF in 1977 and opened the first program, Turning Point Crisis Center, in 1980. He served as CEO for 42 years before retiring.

As an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCSD and an Adjunct Associate Research Professor at SDSU, School of Social Work, he conducted, presented, and published 15 peer-reviewed outcome studies, was one of the authors of the International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services (IAPSRS) Outcomes Toolkit, and co-authored a chapter in a book on managed care in the public sector.

Dr. Hawthorne was selected as the Mental Health Person of the Year for San Diego County in 1997 when he was recognized for his outcomes research and his leadership in employing clients to work in CRF programs.

Hobie’s Legacy

Today, CRF serves more than 20,000 individuals and families annually; provides more than 19,000 psychiatric emergency interventions, supports the housing of more than 900 clients with severe mental illness; and provides child youth and family services to more than 70 San Diego schools.

One of Hobie’s proudest moments was when he was recognized by The American Psychiatric Association and given the Gold Achievement Award for his outcomes research showing that the START Crisis Residential Treatment programs had equal or better outcomes at half the cost of hospital-based treatment programs.

As an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCSD and Adjunct Associate Research Professor at SDSU, School of Social Work, he published research alongside many leaders in our field. He simply loved outcomes research and used it to change our world. He was also a strong advocate for the Clubhouse Model of care, changing many lives for the better.

Hobie’s endless energy, commitment to excellence, and respect for individuals in recovery were unmatched. We will miss him deeply and work diligently each day to keep his values of excellence, curiosity and most importantly, exceptional client care alive.

Hobie’s Published Articles

A Community-Based Program Providing A Successful Alternative to Acute Psychiatric Hospitalization (Gold Award) [2001]

Reducing Length of Acute Inpatient Hospitalization Using a Residential Step Down Model for Patients with Serious Mental Illness [2017]

Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness of Acute and Subacute Residential Mental Health Services: A Systematic Review [2013]

Incarceration Among Adults Who Are in the Public Mental Health System: Rates, Risk Factors, and Short-Term Outcomes [2012]

A Randomized Study Comparing the Treatment Environment in Alternative and Hospital-Based Acute Psychiatric Care [2009]

A Longitudinal Study of the Use of Mental Health Services by Persons with Serious Mental Illness: Do Spanish-Speaking Latinos Differ from English-Speaking Latinos and Caucasians? [2007]

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Homelessness and Utilization of Mental Health Services Among 10,340 Patients with Serious Mental Illness in a Large Public Mental Health System [2005]

A Randomized Trial of Short-Term Acute Residential Treatment for Veterans [2005]

Gender Differences in Characteristics and Service Use of Public Mental Health Patients with Schizophrenia [2003]

Ethnic Disparities in Use of Public Mental Health Case Management Services Among Patients with Schizophrenia [2003]

Comparison of Outcomes of Acute Care in Short-Term Residential Treatment and Psychiatric Hospital Settings [1999]

Residential Treatment for Patients in Crisis [1998]

Integrated Services for Long-Term Care [1997]

A Treatment Outcome Study of Community-Based Residential Care [1994]