The centre was established by the National Authority for the War on Drugs and the regional council in 1990, and was named after Malkishua, the son of King Saul, who fell here in the Mount of Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:2). In 1995 a youth treatment facility was added, and in 2002, Kedem, a centre for religious youths, was founded. The centre is today run by Amutat Neve Malkishua under the authority of the Ministry of Welfare & Social Services.