HOUSING OPTIONS FOR THE MENTALLY-ILL IN EVANSTON INC

SUPPORT SERVICE: IMPACT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNERS PROVIDES WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES TO ADULTS LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. IMPACT SERVES OVER 1,400 INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT CHICAGO AND ITS NORTH AND NORTHWEST SUBURBS. OUR DIVERSE TREATMENT TEAM INCLUDES MASTERS LEVEL THERAPISTS, CASE MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS. PARTICIPANTS CHOOSE WHICH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THEY WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN INCLUDING: CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, THERAPY, AND SUPPORTIVE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. ALL SERVICES AND GOALS ARE TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF EACH PARTICIPANT.IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING NEED FOR ACCESSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH CARE AMONG VERY LOW-INCOME, MEDICAID-ENROLLED OR MEDICAID-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS IN EVANSTON AND SKOKIE, IMPACT LAUNCHED ITS CLINICAL COMMUNITY REFERRAL PROGRAM IN 2023. THE PROGRAM CONNECTS PARTICIPANTS WITH MASTER'S-LEVEL THERAPISTS AND CASE MANAGERS WHO OFFER TIME-UNLIMITED, INDIVIDUALIZED THERAPY AND SUPPORT. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, DEMAND HAS FAR EXCEEDED CAPACITY--DESPITE NO ACTIVE PROMOTION--THE WAITLIST IS 45-PEOPLE LONG, WITH WAIT TIMES OF FOUR-TO FIVE MONTHS.IMPACT PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS AND MEDICAID ENROLLED OR ELIGIBLE. THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROGRAM USES THE EVIDENCE-BASED INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT AND SUPPORT (IPS) MODEL TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS IN FINDING AND RETAINING EMPLOYMENT. THE PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS (FQHCS) AND LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES, INCLUDING ERIE FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS, PCC COMMUNITY WELLNESS CENTER, LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS, AND HOWARD BROWN HEALTH. NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS INNOVATION AND EFFECTIVENESS, IMPACT'S PROGRAM HAS PARTICIPATED IN FOUR FEDERAL RESEARCH STUDIES ON THE IPS MODEL. IT BOASTS A 90-DAY JOB RETENTION RATE OF 86%.