This update provides important information regarding upcoming meetings, legislative updates, and an exciting opportunity to shape the future of our organization. Member participation is crucial to our continued success!

August Membership Meetings - Mark Your Calendars!

Join us for our upcoming virtual membership meetings on August 1 and 2, 2024. We're excited to feature Dr. Eric Ward, CEO of Family Counseling Service, as one of our speakers. He will present on the timely topic of “Mitigating a Community Mental Health Crisis: When Partnership Works,” highlighting innovative solutions to the workforce shortage. The second speaker will be announced soon, offering a complementary perspective on a topic of critical importance to our members. More details and registration information will be available shortly. Be sure to save the dates and stay tuned for further updates.

ACMHAI Request For Proposals: Legislative Relations

ACMHAI is seeking proposals from qualified individuals/firms to provide lobbying and consulting services to advocate for our member interests in Illinois. This consultant will play a vital role in promoting, monitoring, and reporting on legislative initiatives and priorities related to mental health, substance use, and intellectual/developmental disability services. We encourage members to share the RFP widely! Proposals are due by June 30, 2024. Click here to download the RFP document.

Changes to the Community Mental Health Act

On June 7th, the Governor signed HB 4951, the revenue omnibus bill, which includes significant changes to the Community Mental Health Act (CMHA). These changes are effective immediately. Access the ACMHAI fact sheet detailing these changes, here.

The Legislative Committee will convene on June 18th at 9am to further analyze the CMHA amendments and provide a comprehensive end-of-session debrief. Click here for the latest legislative update from GSA. The Veto Session has been scheduled for November 12-14 and 19-21.

Register here for the June 18th Self Advocacy Training, here

Zoom Link to attend the presentation on Envision Illinois as part of the I/DD Committee Meeting

Register here for the August 20th Webinar on Supported Decision Making.

What to Watch

Did you miss one of our recent Professional Development Webinars? Check out the links below to view our latest archived recordings.

How to Create E.A.S.E. (Equitable Advancement of Support for Everyone) in your Behavioral Health System | Speakers: Shandra Summerville, Cultural and Linguistic Competence Coordinator, Champaign County Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Boards; Dr. Julie Radlauer, LMHC, Founder and CEO of Collectively; Erica Ricketts, MBA, CFO, Henderson Behavioral Health

• Recording
• Slide Deck
• Infographic

Deflection Program Treatment Alternative for Safe Communities (TASC) | Speaker: Koren Vanderweele, Program Manager, TASC Center for Health and Justice

• Recording
• Slide Deck
• Deflection Program Information
• Illinois Deflection Sites Look Book

Check out our full list of archived recordings, here.

July Is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health America’s 2024 BIPOC Mental Health Toolkit will be available later this month. ACMHAI will distribute a link to the MHA Toolkit as soon as it is becomes available. The Toolkit will provide free resources to help navigate mental health stigma, bridge generational differences, dismantle mental health myths, and encourage meaningful conversations.

NBC News: First-of-its-kind Youth Mental Health Corps trains young people to help their peers

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $31.4 Million in Funding Opportunities for Priority Behavioral Health Needs

CMS FAQ Guidance to States on Peer Support Services

Senate Mental Health Caucus Briefing on Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

Crosswalk of National Behavioral Health Workforce Recommendations

Governor Pritzker signs Medicaid omnibus

Health News Illinois: Pritzker signs $53.1 billion spending plan

Health News Illinois: HHS adds Illinois to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics program

With shortage of mental health workers, Chicago trains the public to try to prevent suicide

New ACF Resources for Integrating Behavioral Health in Early Childhood Programs

The Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center has created a Job Board. The BHWC has created an online job board for behavioral health workforce vacancies and job seekers.

Centerstone receives DHS 988 call center grant for FY25

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