Architecture for Inclusion:
Leveraging Peer & Community Talent to Build a Workforce for Illinois

What would it take to bring quality mental health support to every Illinoisan? How can we build a well-prepared, stable behavioral health workforce by investing in the diverse talent already in our communities? How can a focus on inclusion achieve the bigger, more representative workforce we need?

NAMI Illinois has been asking these questions since 2020, and while there are no easy answers, the good news is, there are solutions. The problem isn't hard to define - the crisis in our behavioral health workforce began long before COVID triggered spiraling demand. The shortages that disproportionately hurt communities of color, rural areas and other underserved groups aren't exactly new either. Whether it's waiting lists for therapy, the need for more qualified practitioner to prescribe and manage medication, or the growing demands created by 988 and the overhaul of crisis response, the challenges touch us all.

In 2021, NAMI IL created the Architecture for Inclusion framework to create a roadmap for investing in Illinois' greatest asset: the thousands of Illinoisans who put their life experiences to work as peer support professionals, violence intervention specialists, community health workers, or any of the dozens of informal but essential mental health jobs created to meet community needs.

Capitalizing on these talents will take long-term investment to develop and define career pathways built around living wage jobs and ongoing professional support, as well as a policy and program development agenda to systematically obstacles. More immediately, the Architecture team is working on recommendations that increase mental health support in communities today, while building the foundation for tomorrow, including:
  • Establishing a public/private Behavioral Health Scholarship Fund to support higher education or advanced training, while expanding current loan forgiveness programs.
  • Using existing innovation dollars to scale-up mentoring and workforce programs that bring diverse Illinoisans into the peer/community workforce.
  • Starting the career pipeline earlier by investing in emerging roles like community health workers with specialized behavioral health training or community violence intervention peers, other peer support training and employment programs.
  • Giving the NAMI community a seat at the workforce table. Underutilizing non-clinical organizations like NAMI ignores a large talent pool. Many practitioners begin their careers delivering NAMI programs like "Ending the Silence" or "Family Support Group."
  • Establishing an advisory board and commission Architecture for Inclusion policy briefs to identify and advance recommendations that open doors to new talent, such as reforms to make it easier for professionals from other countries to serve Illinois.
To help take the Architecture for Inclusion agenda to the next level, NAMI IL recently contracted with Dr. Leila Ellis-Nelson, a respected psychologist, DEI consultant and health equity advocate who moderated the first Architecture workshop in 2021.

"We're so grateful that Dr. Ellis-Nelson is available and shares our vision and mission" said NAMI IL Executive Director Andy Wade. "We've reached out to dozens of stakeholders, helped pilot innovative programs like the CHW program for behavioral health, incubated the NAMI IL Alliance of Peer Professionals, and rebuilt our own capacity. But we've taken sweat equity as far it can go. Dr. Ellis-Nelson brings a different level of expertise that can help us plan next steps."

For information about Architecture, email NAMI@namiillinois.org.
NAMI IL Welcomes Lachelle Aaroneaux as State Training Director; Board Leadership & Staff Updates

We are pleased to announce that Lachell Jeffries Aaroneaux began as the new NAMI IL Training Director on February 21, and helped deliver an innovative workshop to Community Health Workers on her second day of work!

As former education coordinator from NAMI of McHenry County, co-chair of the McHenry County Suicide Prevention Task Force, and past board member of NAMI Kane County North, Lachell brings a wealth of knowledge and experiences to this important new full-time role. Lachell takes the reins from former Program Director Teri Latter, who is moving into a new role as Strategic Initiatives Consultant, where she will work across the Illinois NAMI-sphere to develop new tools to support affiliates, bring NAMI into new communities, and advance health equity. Get to know Lachell in her recent blog post, or reach her directly at lachell@namiillinois.org.

Congratulations to our newly elected Board Officers:  President Carrie Worthington, Vice-President Lisa Guardiola, Treasurer Sue Vogel, and Board Secretary Gia Washington. A special thanks to outgoing President John Schladweiler for his years of leadership during our most challenging days, and will remain on the board as we enter our next chapter. Thanks also to long-serving Director John Harvey who stepped down after many years on the board, and welcome to newly-elected Director Dr. Beth Rom-Rymer. 

Darcie Shinberger is now our half-time Communications Manager, effective Feb. 16. She has been with us as a contractor/consultant since June, and joined the team officially after retiring as assistant VP of Communications at Western Illinois University. Darcie is based in west central Illinois, and can be reached at darcie@namiillinois.org.
 
Business Development Director Molly Pim came on board in December to lead our fundraising plan and ramp-up joint proposals with affiliates and other allies, develop a statewide NAMI Walk strategy, and work with Business Manager Linda Dziubala to streamline our office. Molly can be reached at Molly@namiillinois.org. 

Community Engagement Manager Taylore Davis is anchoring the partnership with NAMI National to connect the NAMI IL 800 number. She's also managing work to establish a statewide Young Leaders council and partnering with staff and affiliates to bring NAMI on Campus and NAMI Ending the Silence.  Email Taylore@namiillinois.org

A big thank you to Sharing Hope / Compartiendo Facilitators Bettina McWilliams (NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley) and Fermina Ponce (NAMI KDK) for helping update the intro to NAMI and Sharing Hope/Compartiendo Esperanza Facilitator Training unit for the 12 week Community Health Worker/Behavioral Health advance training with our partners at Sinai Urban Health Initiative. 
Caring for the Caregiver: Fill Your Bucket
When a friend or family member develops a mental health condition and you find yourself in a caregiving role, no matter how large or small that role is - from handling home and financial matters, arranging medical visits and more - it's important to care for yourself and "fill your bucket."

Read our newest blog, Caring for the Caregiver, complete with tips from (retired) Mental Health Nursing Instructor Kimberly Simpson MSN, RN, CADC, LPC, here.

NAMI IL is here to help with such programs as NAMI Illinois' Family Support Group, which is a free and confidential peer-led group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Register at tinyurl.com/NAMIFamilySupport.
Talking About Suicide in Rural Illinois

Our friends at the Farm Family Resource Initiative and the University of Illinois would like to hear from farm and other rural families who have lost a loved one by suicide and are willing to share their story for an important documentary film project. Not everyone they meet with will be in the film, so if a family is willing to privately share their experience to help the filmmaker understand the story that will also provide critical support for the project.

If you, or someone you know, are interested in participating, please reach out to Charles "Stretch" Ledford, associate professor of journalism, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign at 804-643-6747 or stretch@illinois.edu
Blueprint for Transformation

In response to a nationwide youth mental health crisis, Gov. JB Pritzker launched the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative in March 2022 to evaluate and redesign the delivery of behavioral health services for children and adolescents in Illinois. The Transformation Initiative builds upon the substantial progress made by Illinois agencies to ensure that every young person experiencing mental or behavioral health problems can access needed services. Read the complete Blueprint for Transformation here.

We extend our gratitude and appreciation to Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois Legislature for keeping mental health initiatives on the forefront. We look forward to working with our partners in the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Department of Public Health and other agencies and organizations as we continue our necessary work to further improve mental health services for every resident of our great state.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week

Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) is an annual campaign sponsored by the National Eating Disorders Association to educate the public about the realities of eating disorders and to provide hope, support, and visibility to individuals and families affected by eating disorders. This year's awareness week is set for Feb. 27-March 5.

You are enough today
and every day.

Need a little extra boost this month (or anytime)?

Visit namiillinois.org to find the resources and assistance you need and deserve.