Founded in 1974 and originally known as Deep East Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services, Burke was formed by the area’s county commissioners’ courts to make community care possible for citizens of this region. Burke is governed by a nine member Board of Trustees and has been accredited by the Joint Commission since 1980.

Burke serves a twelve county region, providing mental health and developmental disability services to over 10,000 people each year. The organization’s namesakes, Ward and Anna Belle Burke, were tireless advocates for persons with mental illness and developmental disabilities and were instrumental in making community care possible in Texas.

Counties served by Burke include Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler.