Spring Membership Meetings

March 26–27, 2026

President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield, Illinois

Best Practice Training:

This year’s best practice training will feature the following (invited) speakers on the state budget, legislative priorities, and policy developments affecting local mental health authorities:

State Agency Leadership (Invited)

• Dulce Quintero – Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), focusing on big‑picture behavioral health priorities for the coming year.

Illinois General Assembly (Invited)

• Senator Lakesia Collins
• Senator Sara Feigenholtz
• Representative Anna Moeller
• Representative Lindsey LaPointe

ACMHAI Lobbyists (Confirmed)

• Liz Brown‑Reeves, ACMHAI Lobbyist, Liz Brown‑Reeves Consulting
• Kristin Rubbelke, ACMHAI Lobbyist, Liz Brown‑Reeves Consulting

Group Dinner:

Join us for the ACMHAI group dinner on Thursday, March 26, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at Arlington’s Historic Venue, 210 Broadway, Springfield, IL. The dinner is included for ACMHAI members as part of meeting registration, but you must register in advance to reserve your spot.

Hotel Information:

Our room block at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel is now sold out and there are no rooms available at the hotel.

There are hotel rooms available at the State House Inn, located about a 5‑minute walk (roughly 0.3 miles) from the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel.

If you still need lodging for the Spring Membership Meeting, please consider booking at the State House Inn as a convenient nearby option.

Call for Community Reports:

In preparation for the Business Meeting on March 27^th, we are seeking community reports from member organizations. If your organization would like to submit a written report for the e-packet, please provide a short summary of recent activities by email to jdart@acmhai.org - no later than March 16th.

Upcoming Webinars

ACMHAI hosts a robust calendar of webinars and virtual learning opportunities throughout the year. In addition to the trainings listed below, we are planning a more in‑depth follow‑up webinar with Engage Illinois, Birth to Five, and many others. More information and registration details for those sessions will be shared soon.

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March 19, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

ACMHAI Children's Behavioral Health Committee Sponsored Webinar: Beacon, Pathways, Family Partnerships, & Workforce Challenges

Speakers:

• Dr. Dana Weiner, Chief Officer, Children's Behavioral Health Transformation
• Regina Crider, Senior Policy Analyst for Community and Parent Leadership at Chapin Hall

ACMHAI’s Children’s Behavioral Health Committee will host a virtual roundtable discussion on Wednesday, March 19 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom, open to all ACMHAI members with no registration required. The webinar will include a 30‑minute presentation followed by 15 minutes of Q&A and dialogue, focusing on the effectiveness and use of the Beacon system, progress and next steps for the Pathways Project, integration of family‑run organizations into children’s behavioral health policy and services, and challenges related to childcare shortages and workforce needs. To join, click on the Zoom link or paste the provided URL into your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84450212843?pwd=dmpLR0psUEJDUUMyTHJvbW9zQmJaQT09

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April 15, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

ACMHAI Webinar: Missouri – Children Services Funds – Putting Kids First

Speakers:

• Todd Patterson, President, Public Progress
• Emily Koenig, Executive Director, St. Louis County Children Services Fund
• Jim Wallis, Director of Business Development, Chestnut Health

SystemsThis webinar will focus on the Children Services Fund and mental health board funding histories in Missouri and how they compare or intersect with Illinois’ local mental health authority structure.

Register

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April 21, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

ACMHAI Webinar: Play with Purpose: Supporting Emotional Growth Through Play Therapy

Speakers:

• Brittany Wilkie, LCSW, Director of Mental Health and Family Support, Easterseals DuPage and Fox Valley
• Natalie Spencer, LCSW, Easterseals DuPage and Fox Valley

This presentation explores the power of play therapy in supporting emotional regulation and developmental growth in children with developmental disabilities. Grounded in relationship-based and child-led approaches, the session highlights how play creates a safe, motivating context for building self-regulation, emotional awareness, communication, and resilience.

Participants will explore play-based supports, including how mastering challenges fosters a sense of competence; how modeling calm, regulated responses helps children release tension safely; how scaffolding frustration tolerance builds resilience; and how using preferred activities expands emotional understanding. Real-life case examples will demonstrate how play-based interventions promote meaningful growth across settings.

The presentation will also emphasize the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration among therapists, educators, and families.

Register

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Below are links to archived webinar recordings so members can revisit content or share it with colleagues who were unable to attend.

• Gateway Foundation - Recording Link



• SNAP Updates - Recording Link

• AI and Digital Technologies in Behavioral Health - Recording Link

• Illinois Partners for Human Service - Recording Link

To keep up with additional webinars, committee meetings, membership meetings, and other offerings, please visit the ACMHAI Calendar of Events page regularly. The calendar is updated as new events and trainings are added and includes registration links where available: https://acmhai.org/events/.

Thank you to all ACMHAI members for submitting your updated levy information for the coming year. Your timely responses have helped us finalize 2026 membership renewals and ensure accurate dues calculations.

Please keep an eye on your inbox in early March for your ACMHAI dues invoice.

Your membership plays a vital role in advancing ACMHAI’s mission to strengthen and support local behavioral health authorities across Illinois. Together, we are building a strong network for advocacy, learning, and collaboration!

ACMHAI | acmhai.org