This two-day online event, held August 7-8, offers a valuable mix of professional development and essential organizational updates for members!

Thursday, August 7 features an afternoon of Best Practice Training from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., including sessions designed to address current priorities in Illinois behavioral health. The first session, “Rural Behavioral Health in Illinois: Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovations,” will be led by Laura Hepp Kessel (SIU School of Medicine, Governor's Rural Affairs Council) and Sam Tenuto (Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley), focusing on strategies to meet the unique behavioral health needs of rural communities. The training continues with “Promoting Culturally and Linguistically Relevant Services to Meet the Needs of Diverse Populations,” presented by Dr. Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar and Dalmina Arias from the University of Illinois Chicago.

Friday, August 8 is dedicated to the ACMHAI Business Meeting (8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.), offering members a forum for discussing committee reports, organizational updates, and key business matters shaping the ACMHAI’s future.

CALL FOR COMMUNITY REPORTS:

In preparation for the August 8th Business Meeting, we are seeking community reports from all member organizations. If your organization would like to submit a written report to be included in the e-packet, please provide a brief summary of recent activities and updates to jdart@acmhai.org by no later than July 31.

Be sure to register in advance to secure your spot! Click here to sign up.  

SAVE THE DATE: December In-Person Membership Meetings

Looking ahead, we are excited to host our December membership meetings on December 4-5 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Schaumburg, IL. Please reserve these dates and plan to join us (in person or virtually) for valuable networking and learning opportunities.

ACMHAI Archived Webinars

• On June 25th, Paula Bradford-Mueller, Sharon Mills, Deborah Humphrey, and Kayla Arnolts provided an update on partnering with ROEs and school leadership. For those unable to attend, please click here to view the archived recording.

New BIPOC Mental Health Toolkit Available



In recognition of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month this July, Mental Health America has released its 2025 BIPOC Mental Health Toolkit in both English and Spanish. This free toolkit offers culturally relevant worksheets, outreach guides, social media resources, and printable materials to support mental health in communities of color. Whether you’re an advocate, educator, or community member, you’ll find practical tools to help spark conversations and promote well-being.

Access the Mental Health America toolkit, click here.

Disability Pride Month



July is also celebrated as Disability Pride Month, coinciding with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in July 1990.

The Arc of US 2025 theme, “We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay,” emphasizes the vital place of people with disabilities in every community and pushes back against ableism and exclusion. The observance invites everyone to recognize disability as a natural part of human diversity. The Arc encourages learning about disability culture and rights, connecting with disabled voices, advocating for inclusive policies, and proudly sharing personal stories—reminding us that people with disabilities deserve acceptance, respect, and equal rights without conditions. More info on Arc's how to celebrate Disability Pride Month, here.

PARTNER NEWS

DBHR

Division of Mental Health and the Division Substance Use Prevention and Recovery have officially merged into the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery as of 7/1/25. Click here to access the DBHR website.

Illinois Launches Children’s Adversity Index to Map Childhood Trauma

Chapin Hall and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) have introduced a groundbreaking resource in the effort to support children’s well-being: the Children’s Adversity Index. This new, statewide tool provides a detailed view of childhood trauma exposures at the community level, helping educators, policymakers, and health professionals better understand and address the challenges faced by Illinois’ youth. Click here to access the Index.

PUNS Selection Letters Sent to Illinois Residents

On July 14, the Division of Developmental Disabilities mailed 1,586 PUNS selection letters to individuals seeking home and community-based services. This recent round of invitations included all adults in the "seeking" category who have waited more than 42 months on the PUNS list. Recipients can now work with their Independent Service Coordinators to determine eligibility and begin accessing needed services through the provider of their choice.

Status of LGBTQ Support in 988 for Illinois

As of July 17, 2025, the SAMHSA-announced LGBTQIA sub-network for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has been discontinued. Previously, LGBTQ individuals could press 3 or text "pride" to connect with a specialized counselor trained for LGBTQ-specific concerns. All 988 call takers in Illinois are still trained to support LGBTQ individuals, ensuring that affirming crisis intervention remains available regardless of the line used. Illinois Department of Mental Health leadership is actively gathering data about past use of the specialized line and is working with Vibrant, the technology provider, to better understand call patterns and needs.

State formally launches consolidated division for behavioral health, recovery services | Read more

Policy Brief: Access and Quality of Mental Health Services in Rural and Urban America | Read more

Workplace Mental Health at Risk as Key Federal Agency Faces Cuts | Read More

Blueprint for a National Prevention Infrastructure for Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders | Read more

Removal of prior authorization for certain mental health services signed into law | Read more

Pritzker signs PBM reform package | Read more

Lurie Children’s partners with ISBE on online platform to support student mental health | Read more

Kennedy Forum, Third Horizon and AMA launch Mental Health Parity Index | Read more

New From 988: Updated Partner Toolkit Resources; 988 vs. 911 Guide | Read more

ACMHAI | acmhai.org