External funding support to Lead Change

10/8/2024

External funding support to Lead Change may be found at local, state, and/or federal levels. The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) is fortunate to have developed and obtained several new pathways to funding in support of Mental Health Action Plan strategic initiatives.

The Illinois Mental Health Planning Advisory Council (IMHPAC) was established by the Illinois Department of Human Services-Division of Mental Health (DMH) as a requirement of the Federal Mental Health Block Grant. Each state receiving such funds must have a council like IMHPAC, following the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) Guidelines, which now state:

"SAMHSA strongly encourages state behavioral health authorities to continue to work closely with their state courts to ensure the best coordination of services and outcomes, in light of pervasive health disparities and inequities, and to develop closer interdisciplinary programming for justice system involved individuals. This includes establishing effective partnerships between state behavioral health systems, providers, and state courts."

- FFY 2024-2025 Combined Block Grant Application

Notably, the AOIC State Court Administrator is a member of the IMHPAC and serves as Chairperson of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee. As a program supported by Federal Mental Health Block Grant dollars, the FY25 Mental Health Juvenile Justice (MHJJ) Program received its highest allocation of funds to date. The MHJJ Program functions as a point of contact between the Illinois Juvenile Court System, probation, schools, families, and community health and human service providers, linking youth and family with any necessary services.

For MHJJ program information, contact Shelby Cunningham, MSW, Program Manager of Forensic Community Service Programs, Illinois Department of Human Services at [email protected].

Further strengthening the state court and the Illinois Department of Human Services relationship, the AOIC and Division of Substance Use, Prevention, and Recovery have created an Intergovernmental Agreement expanding access to Moral Reconation Therapy through the AOIC's Probation Services Division.

And last but not least, in a September 2024 Illinois Courts Connect article titled "Federal Grant Awards Will Help the AOIC and Justice Partners Get the Job Done," AOIC Director Marcia M. Meis highlights several recent success in obtaining Federal Funding to support improvements at the intersection of behavioral health and the courts.

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