HHS provides almost $13 million to Illinois groups to boost mental health

The Department of Health and Human Services is providing nearly $13 million to Illinois groups to boost school-based mental health services and training on recognizing mental health challenges for early intervention.

HHS awarded about $3.6 million each to the Illinois State Board of Education and Chicago Public Schools to help develop and support school-based mental health programs and services. Chicago Public Schools will also receive $1.9 million to increase access to trauma support services and mental healthcare.

And HHS gave 15 Illinois organizations money to train school personnel, emergency responders, law enforcement and others to recognize the signs of mental health challenges for early interventions:

·     Alexian Brothers Health System: $237,010

·     Association House of Chicago: $250,000

·     Bridgeway Inc. in Galesburg: $250,000

·     Community Counseling Centers of Chicago: $250,000

·     Cicero Family Services: $250,000

·     Habilitative Systems, Inc. in Chicago: $243,883

·     Human Service Center in Peoria: $216,503

·     Human Support Services in Waterloo: $249,681

·     Kenneth Young Center in Elk Grove Village: $250,000

·     NAMI Metro Suburban in Oak Park: $250,000

·     Northern Illinois University in De Kalb: $238,961

·     Rincon Family Services in Chicago: $250,000

·     Sinai Health System in Chicago: $249,195

·     Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare: $250,000

·     University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: $249,981

Overall, HHS awarded nearly $245 million in funding from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to support youth mental health, help healthcare providers address mental health needs and fund other mental health supports.

“Advancing youth mental health is a top priority for HHS and this administration,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “We’re encouraged by the continued bipartisan support of these critical programs.”