As part of its ongoing commitment to expanding mental health services, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) today announced a new partnership with Cook County Health (CCH) and Centers. To increase service options for residents, CCH will assume management of mental health services at CDPH’s Roseland Neighborhood Health Center in early 2017. The partnership no

It only increases service options in Roseland, but also provides more opportunities for CDPH to expand mental health services at other locations across Chicago.

Specifically, the new partnership will provide mental health services to children and youth at the Roseland Neighborhood Health Center location, populations not currently served there. Additionally, all clients at this site will now have direct access to CCH’s comprehensive healthcare network, providing access to an array of quality mental and physical health care providers, clinics and hospitals across Cook County.

“This expansion will provide a wider range of services to more Chicagoans and increase access in more of our city’s neighborhoods,” said CDPH Commissioner Julie Morita, M.D. “Through this renewed partnership with Cook County, our residents will soon have more opportunities to access the care they need to live a safe and healthy life.”

To ensure a seamless transition for clients at the Roseland location, CDPH staff will be in contact with them in the coming weeks to discuss the new opportunities available through the partnership. CCH will continue to see CDPH’s current clients, regardless of their ability to pay. As part of the partnership agreement, CDPH will continue to cover any costs for mental health services for those clients ineligible for insurance.

“A person’s physical and mental health are interdependent,” said CCH CEO, Jay Shannon, M.D. “With CCH taking on these mental health outpatient services, we will be able to provide patients receiving mental health services seamless connectivity to health care providers within our system to address any physical health needs they may have, supporting their overall health and wellness.”

Earlier this year, CCH opened its Community Triage Center (CTC), providing evaluation, crisis stabilization and treatment for patients presenting with psychiatric and/or substance-related crises. The CTC is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is located in the same building as the Roseland Neighborhood Health Center.

“I’m pleased that today’s announcement will help more families and individuals receive quality, affordable mental health services right here in the Roseland community,” said 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Chicago Department of Public Health and Cook County Health and Hospital Systems to expand access to quality mental health services across the city.”

The partnership at the Roseland Neighborhood Center is an expansion of service, and CDPH will maintain current funding and staffing levels for its mental health clinical services program. Thanks to the new partnership, CDPH can now redeploy its Roseland staff, allowing the city to increase the number of visits and services for residents in 2017. CDPH will have providers on site at select Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) Service Centers, providing direct care to residents at those sites also in need of mental health services. CDPH will also expand group therapy programming and increase case management for its current clients, providing more comprehensive services for those most in need. The increase in services will result in 500 additional visits for residents per year.

“By having CDPH providers on site, we expand the services we offer our residents,” said DFSS Commissioner Lisa Morrison Butler. “We know that good mental health is essential to thriving, and we are glad to offer our clients more opportunities to get the care they need.”