OUR HISTORY

Established in 1975, Community Mental Health Council, Inc, (The Council) began as a vision of Southside Chicago residents affiliated with the South Central Community Service Health Organization, who identified a need for additional mental health services in their community. Their meeting resulted in the formation of an Advisory Council that applied for incorporation under the name Community Mental Health Council, Inc. as a non-for-profit organization purposed to establish high-quality mental health services.

Shortly thereafter, The Council received its first grant from the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities to fund a community day-treatment program. This program was designed to provide intensive psychological and social treatment for adults from the South Shore community.

Navigated by a volunteer Board of Directors, The Council
led the initiative to combine South Shore and Chatham-Avalon into a single planning area, which allowed both
areas to receive federal and state funding. These efforts were rewarded in 1979 when federal and state government grants were awarded to The Council to establish a comprehensive mental health center on the South Side of Chicago.

Today, The Council provides a full continuum of comprehensive behavioral healthcare services to children, individuals, families and seniors in the Chicago metropolitan area. Success has allowed expansion throughout the state of Illinois — and as far reaching as Durban, South Africa.

Resting on the mission, "Saving Lives and Making a Difference," The Council continues to be governed by a volunteer board whose members "Dare to Care" and understand that people's needs come first. Through intervention, prevention, emergency care, assessment, medication, individual, group and family therapy, state-of-the-art research and proficient training programs, The Council's services have made their way into the lives of those who traditionally would not have access to quality behavioral healthcare.