Illinois behavioral health project judged to have exceeded expectations

This article was originally published at Illinois behavioral health project judged to have exceeded expectations

Illinois’ Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Transformation Project (CCBHC-T) exceeded expectations in its first year, according to a report released this week by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

The initiative, supported by Ballmer Group, enrolled 37 clinics and more than 300 behavioral health professionals in a Workforce Accelerator Program during its inaugural year. The program strengthened support for participating clinics, integrated mental health and substance use treatment, addressed clinician shortages through licensure incentives, and built the state systems needed for long-term sustainability.

“Illinois is on a stable, sustainable path to establish a behavioral health infrastructure that will serve people meaningfully for years to come,” said Chuck Ingoglia, president and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler, chief behavioral health officer at the Illinois Department of Human Services, said the initiative’s strength was in bringing together state leaders, providers, and behavioral health experts around a shared vision for expanding access to care.

Nationally, CCBHCs served approximately 3.4 million people in 2025 across 539 certified clinics, a 13 percent increase since January 2024. The Illinois project’s second year will focus on expanding the behavioral health workforce and securing the model’s financial stability.

This article was originally published at Illinois behavioral health project judged to have exceeded expectations