Vote for Milton Township mental health board

The April 6 ballot includes a referendum question for Milton Township to form a 708 Community Mental Health Board. Here are the facts:

•A CMH Board does not provide direct services or programs.

• A 708 CMH Board is named for the House of Representatives Resolution 708 that created a board structure to respond to the local mental health, substance use disorder and developmental/intellectual disability needs of their communities.

• CMH volunteer boards are appointed by township supervisors, under the Illinois Community Mental Health Act and are accountable to the citizens of their community.

• The limiting rate in the ballot measure is .15%. The average for Illinois townships that have established a CMH Board is .05%. Bloomingdale Township's is .02%.

• County government is not charged with and does not cover all services for all residents. The Illinois Statute for 708 Community Mental Health Boards is to "fill in the gaps" in service and funding.

• The DuPage County Health Department does not now, nor has it ever, coordinated all mental health services in the County, and provides only a fraction of the mental health services in the county focused primarily on residents with Medicare/Medicaid.

• Illinois has a waiting list of over 18,500 people in need of services for developmental/intellectual disability services. Over 700 Milton Township residents are registered for services. More than 300 are actively attempting to obtain services. It is unlikely that the 700+ Milton Township residents will get the services they need and deserve from the state.

Vote Yes for local resources that stay local.

Erica Nelson

Wheaton