The Treatment Advocacy Center was founded in 1998 to promote improvements in the treatment of people with severe mental illnesses.  Since that time, the organization has grown as a respected independent voice for reforming treatment laws.  Since the Treatment Advocacy Center was formed, 20 states have made important changes to their treatment laws and more progress is on the horizon.

The Treatment Advocacy Center has a close relationship with the Stanley Medical Research Institute.  The Stanley Medical Research Institute (SMRI) is a nonprofit organization supporting research on the causes of, and treatments for, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.