ACMHAI December Membership Meetings | | |
✨ Call for Roundtable Facilitators ✨
The ACMHAI December Membership Meetings will be held December 4–5, 2025 in Schaumburg, with Roundtable Discussions on Thursday, December 4 from 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Building on last year’s positive feedback, we’re inviting members to lead and guide a group discussion—sharing real-world experiences, best practices, innovations, and insights. We are still in need of facilitators for the topics listed below.
Facilitators Needed on Topics such as:
· Trust-based vs. compliance-based funding models
· Contract negotiations
· Diversified funding streams
💬 Interested in facilitating? Please email jdart@acmhai.org with your preferred topic.
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Upcoming ACMHAI Standing Committee Meetings
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Membership Committee: September 23 at 10:00 am | Zoom Link
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Children's Behavioral Health: September 25, 2025 at 10:00 am | Zoom Link
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Legislative Committee: October 21 at 9:00 am | Zoom Link
2025 Veto Session Calendar
September 12 LBR Report
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I/DD Committee: November 13, 2025 at 10:00 am | Zoom Link. NOTE DATE CHANGE DUE TO VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY
| | Register here to attend the October 14 EasterSeals Webinar. Stay tuned for more details on our December Membership Meetings and the January Webinar on Digital Mental Health. A webinar on legal issues is also planned for later this year, with the date to be announced. | |
REMINDER!
NACBHDD 2025 Fall Virtual Legislative & Policy Conference — Exclusive Discount for ACMHAI Members!
The National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Directors (NACBHDD) 2025 Fall Virtual Legislative & Policy Conference will be held ONLINE October 21-22. This first-ever Fall virtual event will unite behavioral health and I/DD leaders nationwide to dive into the latest policy landscape, share lessons from state legislative sessions, and explore the power of education, outreach, and coalition building.
Special Offer for ACMHAI Members:
Register now and enjoy a 40% discount off of the NACBHDD non member rate using the instructions below:
- Click on Register button
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Select the quantity under the non-member category (early bird if before September 15).
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Add the discount code: LPfall40 - available only to ACMHAI members.
- Click Register Now
This will ensure ACMHAI members receive the NACBHDD member registration rate. Early bird registration is only $120 (ends tomorrow), and attendees will receive presentation slides and a certificate of participation upon request.
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ACMHAI Board Governance Community of Practice
– Open to All Members –
ACMHAI recently formed a Board Governance Community of Practice (CoP) — an open forum for members to share ideas, challenges, and solutions related to board leadership.
Designed especially to support new, transitioning, and rural boards – including those without staff — this CoP will provide a peer-to-peer space to discuss real-world governance questions, explore resources, and exchange best practices.
Led by Donna Augustyn-Sloan and operating under the Membership Committee to ensure a direct feedback loop to ACMHAI leadership, the Board Governance CoP welcomes all members interested in strengthening board effectiveness and community impact.
If you are interested in participating, please email Jodi at jdart@acmhai.org. Once we have a group, we will determine the meeting frequency and schedule. If you can’t sign up right now, you can still join later — we’re just gathering feedback to help get started.
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Illinois General Assembly Website Update
The Illinois General Assembly has launched its redesigned website at the same address, www.ilga.gov, featuring improved search tools, streamlined committee schedules, and quick links to legislative resources. ACMHAI Members who posted witness slips on the old site will need to create a new account to continue using features like filing and storing witness slips and personalizing the GA Dashboard.
How to set up your new account:
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Go to ilga.gov.
- Click “Login” in the upper right corner.
- Scroll down and click “Register.”
- Enter your email address, password, and confirm password.
- Agree to terms and complete the captcha, then click “Register.”
- Check your email, follow the link to confirm, and enter your confirmation code.
- Click “Confirm Registration.” You’re now set to participate and track legislative action.
We strongly encourage AMCHAI members to create your new ILGA account before Spring session so you’re ready to file witness slips and stay active in real time.
Once registered, you’ll be able to file and manage electronic witness slips, store views of past slips, track bills and committee schedules, and receive legislative alerts.
Find a full tutorial video here: https://www.ilga.gov/Learn?Name=New Account
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SAMHSA Strategic Priorities
SAMHSA has released its Strategic Priorities, outlining a focused plan to address the nation’s growing behavioral health challenges. The agency’s six priorities include preventing substance misuse, addressing serious mental illness, expanding crisis intervention, improving access to evidence-based treatment, supporting long-term recovery, and identifying emerging behavioral health threats. These efforts are grounded in science, data, and innovation, with the goal of delivering effective interventions that improve health outcomes nationwide. SAMHSA emphasizes a commitment to efficiency, accountability, and long-term solutions that strengthen communities and support individuals in achieving lasting recovery and well-being. View priorities, here.
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Annual Public Forum on the Healthcare Transformation 1115 Waiver
The Forum will be hosted by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. It will take place on Friday, October 3, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will provide updates on the progress of Illinois’ 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waiver, as required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The event will also give participants an opportunity to share feedback and comments.
Individuals wishing to provide oral comments must pre-register by emailing hfs.boards.and.commissions@illinois.gov by 5:00 p.m. on October 1, 2025. Written comments may be submitted until October 15, 2025 by emailing hfs.1115waiver@illinois.gov.
The forum will be held virtually via WebEx. Participants can register in advance at this WebEx link.
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