Welcome to The Association of Community Mental Health Authorities of Illinois

ACMHAI exists today to increase the capacity of individual community mental health systems by strengthening and developing local mental health authorities. It does this in the following ways:
  • Improving the development and delivery of comprehensive mental health services and facilities for persons with mental disabilities.
  • Promoting the exchange of information.
  • Developing a unified state-wide voice.
  • Fostering cooperation with other private and public mental health organizations.
  • Initiating and influencing policy reform.
  • Assisting in the passage of additional referenda and resolutions.

PRESENTATION MATERIALS FROM THE 2013 ACMHAI LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

April 17-18

Springfield, Illinois

Dr. Ron Manderscheid's opening presentation on the federal landscape focusing on Affordable Care Act and federal mental health initiatives:

Manderscheid ACMHAI Leg Conf 4-17-13

George Hovanec's take on Illinois fiscal issues and why we should care:

Hovanec presentation on Illinois Finance FY 2014 - ACMHAI Conference 4-17-13

HFS Director Julie Hamos' presention:

HFS Presentation ACMHAI Leg Conf 4-18-13

DMH presentations by Dan Wasmer:

DMH Strategic Plan - ACMHAI Leg Conf 4-18-13

DMH Regional Planning 2012 - ACMHAI Leg Conf 4-18-13

CBHA Presentation on Mental Health Issues:

CBHA - ACMHAI Leg Conf 4-18-13

IADDA Presentation and Supporting Materials on Substance Use and Addiction Issues:

IADDA - ACMHAI Leg Conf 4-18-13

IADDA Information on FY14Budget-SUD FieldRequest_FINAL

IADDA SU and Addiction Services Funding_Graphs _FY8-13

Melissa Picciola, Equip for Equality, Presentation on DD/ID Issues:

DD/ID presentation - ACMHAI Leg Conf 4-18-13


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ACMHAI Membership Takes Positions

At the Annual Meeting of the ACMHAI Membership, two important positions were taken on timely issues:

1. Medicaid Expansion

The first position is support for Medicaid Expansion in Illinois as outlined in SB 26.

SB 26 Medicaid Expansion Fact Sheetis a Fact Sheet developed by the bill drafters.

You can read ACMHAI's position paper here: Medicaid expansion position and rationale - adopted by ACMHAI membership 12-08-12

This bill is expected to come up for vote early in the legislative session. There is pressure to get this decision made, as there will be a great deal of work to be done by year end if Illinois elects to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. To state your support for Medicaid Expansion in Illinois, call your Illinois State Senator and Representatives and ask them to support SB 26.

2. Continuing planning for the Illinois Children & Youth Behavioral Health System

For those who have been following the zigs and zags, fits and starts, and seemingly parallel planning processes around behavioral health going on in Illinois for the past two years, two of the projects (Regional Behavioral Health planning and the Statewide Behavioral Health Task Force) are wrapping up the planning portions of those efforts. Although system issues for children and youth are included in both these efforts, the plans are comprehensive in scope, addressing the whole array of behavioral health services and systems. Both of these are Strategic Planning efforts and will not result in a complete operations plan for transforming the behavioral health system for children and youth in Illinois.

The Children & Youth Illinois United for Youth SAMSHA-funded planning effort has received a no-cost extension to continue development of a statewide plan around System of Care principles which may go much deeper, but is still time limited. In support of the continuing work of IUY, but also recognizing that more attention needs to be brought to addressing the system of behavioral health services for children and youth, ACMHAI has followed up on the recommendations adopted by the Human Services Commission that recognizes no one state agency alone is responsible for the children and youth system of care.

You can read the Human Services Commission Report and Recommendations of the Children's Behavioral Health Sub-Workgroup here: Childrens Behavioral Health - Report and Recommendations to HSC- 10-12

ACMHAI is proposing that the Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership be designated to continue the process of developing, implementing, monitoring and assessing a statewide Behavioral Health Plan for Children and Youth.

ACMHAI's Position Paper:

ACMHAI Position on CMH system planning - Adopted 12-07-12

ACMHAI's Resolution:

ACMHAI_Resolution_for_CMH_12-08-12

PLEASE SHARE THIS RESOLUTION AND REQUEST THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION, YOUR PARTNERS AND YOUR COMMUNITY SIGN ON IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUING TO DEVELOP AND PUT IN PLACE A TRANSFORMATIONAL PLAN FOR THE ILLINOIS SYSTEM OF CARE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS.

Let us know if your organization signs on. Send an e-mail to Phyllis Russell, Executive Director of ACMHAI at phyllis@acmhai.org.

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READ IT HERE 

Providers of services to those with developmental disabilities just received a letter about delayed payments should the General Assembly not find additional FY 13 funds. Read it here:  FinancialLettertoDDProviders4-29-13

The ACMHAI Children's Mental Health Committee has prepared a white paper on a care coordination model for children with complex behavioral needs that could be implemented in Illinois on a demonstration or pilot basis:

ACMHAI White Paper - Care Coordination Model for Children with Complex BH Needs

 

February 8 ACMHAI Newsletter - Winter 2013

ACMHAI Newsletter - Winter 2013

 

ACMHAI Newsletter - August 2012

Posted following the Illinois Specialty Courts Conference

Checklist for Implementing Evidence-Based Practices for Justice Involved Adults with Behavioral Health Disorders 2012

Criminal Justice Engaging_Stakeholders_Webinar_Slides_071912 - Consensus Project

Law Enforcement Strategies - Consensus Project 7_26_12_LE_Webinar

Using Criminal Justice and Public Health Data to Improve the Identification of Mental Illness Fact Sheet

ACMHAI recently published a position paper on CANS (the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment) recommending that Illinois "adopt and implement the CANS, based on its appropriateness for use with children from ages 0-18, its ease of adminstration (after receipt of training), the utility of the dimension scores in developing a profile of strengths and needs, and its accessibility (both cost and manual availability)." 

ACMHAI Position Statement on CANS

The ACMHAI position statement on Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Development (PRTF)

PRTF Recommendations to HFS 3-12

The ACMHAI Updated position statement on EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment

ACMHAI EPSDT Position revised 2012

An overview of the roles of behavioral health authorities and their association in Illinois- ACMHAI.

ACMHAI Landscape Power Point 4-12

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Information on theState initiative around integration of behavioral health and primary health care information and IT systems.

3_IL HIE BHWG HIT Survey Findings- DRAFT _2_

Dia Cirillo HIEBHIP Overview 4-12

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The Ligas decree is having a deep impact on access to community-based services by those with developmental disabilities in Illinois. Tony Records is the Ligas federal monitor.

Tony Records - Overview of Ligas for ACMHAI Conf 4-12

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To learn more about EPSDT and home/community based services for children, check out this link from NAMI.   If you are interested in working with us on this initiative, please email phyllis@acmhai.org.   

ACMHAI Position on State Facility Closures

ACMHAI Comments on Coordinated Care in IL

NAMI Family Guide

Using Home-Based Programs in Other States to Support a
Medicaid...


Using Medicaid to Obtain Intensive Home-Based Services...

Evaluating the Need for Home-Based Services for Children

ACMHAI Newsletters
ACMHAI Newsletter - Late Summer 2012 ACMHAI Newsletter - Spring 2012
June 2011 October 2008
February 2011 May 2008
Fall 2010 Feb 2008
Spring/Summer 2010 Sept 2007
Winter 2010 May 2007
June 2009 Jan 2007
Winter 2009 Sept 2006
October 2009 May 2006
 
 
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