Illinois launches children’s behavioral health portal

The service offers information on community-based resources and behavioral health services for children and adolescents provided by the Departments of Human Services, Children and Family Services, Public Health, Healthcare and Family Services, Juvenile Justice and the State Board of Education.

Programs include outpatient counseling, school-based services, residential treatment and wraparound services to support families caring for young people with complex needs.

“By giving parents and caregivers a single place to access information and assistance for youth mental and behavioral health problems, we are empowering families to meet their own needs in their own communities,” said Dr. Dana Weiner, chief officer for Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative.

The portal can also connect parents or guardians to a coordinator to help identify additional resources for children in need.

The service was designed through a partnership with Google Public Sector. A soft launch occurred in the fall to allow state agency representatives, physicians, mental health practitioners and school personnel to provide input.

Gov. JB Pritzker joined agency leaders and other stakeholders Wednesday in Chicago to celebrate the launch.

“We have made behavioral health a priority of my administration — not just investing in affordability and accessibility, but breaking down the stigmas associated with it,” he said. “With the launch … families have an easy and accessible place to start.”

He said the initiative is the latest step in fulfilling a blueprint unveiled in 2023 on ways to improve behavioral health services for children.