John Van Camp
Director of Mental Retardation

John graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology.  He then went on to earn a Masters of Criminal Justice Degree with a focus on Juvenile Delinquency and Community-based Corrections and a Masters of Social Work, concentrating in Health and Mental Health, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.  John received Juris Doctor from Birmingham School of Law in May 2002.


During the course of his education John worked in a variety of mental health settings and now has 25 years experience in the field.  When John joined the Northwest team in 1990, Mental Retardation Services had one group home with six full time staff. 

Under John's Direction, M.R. Services has expanded to include numerous residential programs, 2 community based day habilitation programs and case management services in Walker, Winston, Marion, Fayette and Lamar counties, and currently employs in excess of one hundred and seventy five staff, providing much needed services to individuals and their families.

As Director of M.R. Services, it is John's goal to provide top quality services to individuals and their families in the five counties served by Northwest, with emphasis on personal choice and self-advocacy.  John's dedication and his passion for his job is evident in the level of service provided in the programs under his direction.