National Center Launches Intensive Technical Assistance in Illinois
National Center Launches Intensive Technical Assistance in Illinois
Written by National Center Staff
The National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services is forging a path toward increasing access to adoption competent mental health care. The Center is excited to announce its partnership with Illinois, the second State to receive Intensive Technical Assistance services. The TA team held the official onsite kickoff meeting on October 8, 2024, in Champaign, Illinois. This initiative is led by Dana A. Weiner, Ph.D., Director, Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative and Senior Policy Fellow, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and Verletta Saxon, Ph.D., Deputy of Research & Child Well-Being in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Forty-seven people from 31 child-serving organizations in Illinois attended the kickoff meeting. The organizations included:
- Ada S McKinley Behavioral Health and Clinical Services
- Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
- Chapin Hall
- Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois
- Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative
- Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois,
- CountyCare Health Plan
- DCFS – Erikson Institute, Early Childhood Project
- DCFS – Family First Prevention Services
- DCFS – Office of Racial Equity Practice
- DCFS – Office of Research and Child Well-Being
- DCFS- Permanency Services
- DCFS – Regional Adoption/Guardianship
- DCFS – Rush Children’s Hospital
- DHFS – Children’s Behavioral Health
- DHFS – Illinois Medicaid State Agency
- DHS – Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services
- DHS – Division of Early Childhood
- DHS – Division of Mental Health
- DPH – Office of Woman’s Health and Family Services
- Hoyleton Youth and Family Services
- Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans (IAMHP)
- Illinois Collaboration on Youth
- Illinois State Board of Education
- Lurie Children’s Center for Childhood Resilience
- Meridian Health
- Molina Healthcare of Illinois
- State of Illinois – Governor’s Office and Youth Care Health Plan
The kickoff meeting allowed participants to begin collaborative work and engage in cross-system discussions to address the needs of youth with complex mental health concerns. Participants shared their excitement about this opportunity for cross-system collaboration and united on a common purpose of increasing the capacity and competency of the systems to serve children and families.
Verletta Saxon, Ph.D., Deputy of Research and Child Well-Being at Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, said, “I’d like to thank the National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services for creating this space to discuss and raise awareness about the trauma related mental health needs of children before and after they touch child-serving systems. I’m honored to represent Director Mueller of Illinois DCFS as we collaborate with the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative to improve mental health outcomes for Illinois’ children and youth. Together, we can ensure that every individual in Illinois takes the time to address these layers of trauma and prepare for the important work ahead.”
As the work begins, the National Center will align with and enhance efforts that are already underway in Illinois through the Blueprint for Transformation: A Vision for Improved Behavioral Health Care for Children in Illinois.
Does your State, Tribe, or territory need help in addressing the complex mental health needs of the children, youth, and families you serve? Through our team of organizations with expertise in child welfare, mental health, lived experience of youth and their families, and diversity and inclusion, the National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services can provide Intensive Technical Assistance designed to address these challenges and more.
Bring TA to your community!
We’d love to talk with you! Please contact Mary Wichansky, the Director of the National Center, or Connect with Us on our webpage. Together, we can create solutions to positively impact mental health outcomes for children, youth, and families.