McHenry Co. residents invited to weigh in on mental health issues at retreat

Submitted by McHenry County Mental Health Board

Community members are invited to a Mental Health Board retreat focused on local mental health, substance use, and developmental disability needs from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at 620 Dakota St., Crystal Lake. Presentations will inform the board’s upcoming funding and planning decisions.

The retreat format includes three one-hour components: feedback and comments from persons who utilize services, presentations by providers of services and MHB planning.

People who utilize services have the opportunity to provide comments about existing services in two-to-three minute time slots, and/or they are encouraged to provide written comment that will be shared with each member of the MHB. To reserve a time slot call Barbara Iehl at (815) 455-2828 or send an email to biehl@mc708.org. Written comment can be emailed or sent to the MHB, or it can dropped off at the meeting.

Although all written comments are welcome at any time, to be included in the information presented to board members for consideration at the July 23 retreat, comments should be submitted by July 19.

The service provider section of the retreat addresses the mental health, substance use, and developmental disability support needs within our community. Each area of focus will provide a 15-minute presentation with a five minute question/answer section. Presentations will focus on our community’s network of care, including perspectives on current strengths and challenges. They will also address how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Expansion will affect services.

The Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies will facilitate the MHB planning section of the retreat. Facilitators will initiate recommendations for the board’s strategic and funding priorities based on the information provided in the previous sections.

“Our behavioral health community is experiencing significant change driven by national, state, and local policies, “said Todd Schroll, interim executive director of the MHB. “This is an exciting time for our community, providers, consumers, and the MHB to provide leadership for rebuilding and strengthening our behavioral health system.”

The regular MHB meeting will follow immediately after the retreat from 6 to 7 p.m.

For more information, call Barbara Iehl at (815) 455-2828 or email biehl@mc708.org.