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Illinois: D

Grading the States 2009 Report Card: Illinois

In 2006, Illinois’ mental health care system received an F grade. Three years later, it has advanced slightly to a D — which is not much to be proud about. Illinois leads the nation in numbers of people with serious mental illnesses warehoused in nursing homes. This fact casts a pall over the state’s entire mental health care system. Full narrative (PDF).

Grades by Category Detailed Score Card (PDF)

  1. Health Promotion and Measurement: D 25% of Total Grade
    Basic measures, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices, emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.
  2. Financing & Core Treatment/Recovery Services: C 45% of Total Grade
    A variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.
  3. Consumer & Family Empowerment: C 15% of Total Grade
    Includes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.
  4. Community Integration and Social Inclusion: D 15% of Total Grade
    Includes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.

Innovations

  • CIT and jail diversion programs
  • Peer education and peer supports
  • Community education and awareness efforts

Urgent Needs

  • Invest in services that meet evidence-based fidelity standards
  • End warehousing in nursing homes
  • Address problems with the new fee-for-services system

Additional Information and Resources

Full Narrative (PDF) | Detailed Score Card (PDF) | Full Report | Order Hard Copy

NAMI Illinois: Connect with the NAMI nearest you.

Grading the States Online Discussion: Share your comments, reactions, personal stories, and ideas around NAMI's report on the state of America's health care system for serious mental illness.

Grading the States 2006 Report Card: Illinois

"Illinois doesn’t have a mental health system. It has a few pockets of adequate services for some, but little or no coordination among them. Mental health services are shamefully under-funded, and waiting lists are either long or closed."

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