Office of Behavioral Health
About the Behavioral Health Framework for Cook County
We believe in a behavioral health system that provides services and supports that promote mental health well-being, early intervention, prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use conditions and parity in access to health-related social needs that contribute to well-being.
Regional Behavioral Health Strategic Plan
A Behavioral Health Framework will ensure ALL Cook County residents have:
PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN & ADULTS:
Prevention and early intervention services, no matter diagnosis or health status, especially among children and adolescents.
CARE, TREATMENT, SUPPORT & RECOVERY:
Access to culturally and linguistically responsive care, treatment, and recovery support no matter where they live in the region.
CRISIS ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT LINKAGE TO CARE:
Behavioral health crisis care in their community, and people have access to someone to talk to, someone to respond to, and somewhere to go for treatment and support.
HEALTH RELATED SOCIAL NEEDS:
Individuals are supported in the community with person-centered services and address Health-Related Social Needs.
Behavioral Health Summit
First Cook County Health Summit
was held February 15, 2024.
Perspectives gathered at the summit will be instrumental in developing Cook County’s Behavioral Health Strategic Plan, prioritizing expansion of services and treatments across the county, and for structuring upcoming community-based funding opportunities from the Cook County Health Impact Fund.
Stronger Together:
Building a More Equitable Behavioral
Health System in Cook County Initiative
This initiative seeks to resolve behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care.
Funds were announced in 2024.
Workforce Development
The symposium centered on key findings from the Cook County Behavioral Health Workforce Report.
Cook County Health hosted a pivotal Behavioral Health Workforce Symposium on October 1, focusing on the urgent need to address workforce shortages in mental health services across the region. This event gathered more than 300 mental health professionals, community leaders, and elected officials to discuss workforce development challenges and strategies for improvement.
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