Imagine a local entity dedicated solely to ensuring your neighbors have access to vital mental health, developmental disability, and substance use services. That’s precisely the power of Community Mental Health Boards, often called ‘708 Boards’ in Illinois. In Illinois, this legislation enabled the establishment of 708 Boards, requiring local referendums and a local tax to fund community services.
These volunteer boards play a crucial role in strengthening community well-being by evaluating local needs and creating targeted support. They strategize, plan, and allocate local tax funding to coordinate comprehensive services for mental health, developmental disabilities (IDD), and substance use. This local funding ensures critical services stay within the community, reducing waiting lists and gaps in care. Benefits are significant, addressing rising crisis calls and IDD prevalence. By funding local services, boards ensure access to vital support, with impacts including social workers in police forces, suicide intervention training, and connecting parents of children with IDD to caregivers. Ultimately, they empower communities to meet behavioral health needs, fostering a more interconnected, resilient, and supportive environment.
What does it take to help a community get a mental health board referendum passed? A key inspiration is Mike Murray, a passion-filled advocate. He led the significant effort to launch the first 708 Board in DuPage County (Bloomingdale Township) and now inspires and advocates for other communities in Northern Illinois through this crucial process, underscoring the critical need for these boards to bridge service gaps and deliver comprehensive mental health care.
Learn more at Advocatefor708.org. Find out if your community has a 708 Board: acmhai.org/definitions