Who we are?

The Community Mental Health Board, Town of Oak Park (CMHB) is an affiliate of Oak Park Township. The CMHB Board of Directors is comprised of nine residents appointed by the Township Trustee Board. The purpose of the Community Mental Health Board is to plan, develop, coordinate, evaluate, and fund mental health services in Oak Park, including services for persons with mental disorders, alcohol or other drug dependence or developmental disorders. In short, the CMHB functions as the mental health authority for Oak Park.

History

In 1973 as a result of the Community Mental Health Act, a referendum was passed by the voters of Oak Park to establish a Community Mental Health Board and levy an annual tax for the purpose "...of providing community mental health facilities and services including facilities for the developmentally disabled and the substance abuser."

Following the successful referendum, the Township government appointed a nine-member Board of community representatives to administer the mental health fund and to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Community Mental Health Act. The Community Mental Health Board, Town of Oak Park held its first meeting shortly thereafter and quickly began to develop general operating procedures and fund agencies.

One year later a full-time director was hired to coordinate the day-to-day affairs, assist the voluntary Board members and add professional input and expertise to the Board's activities. As of 2007, the Board administers a budget of over 1.7 million dollars which provides funding for seventeen agencies and forty-three different programs, service coordination activities for the Township, and administrative staff to fulfill our state mandate.

Our Purpose and Philosophy

The Illinois Community Mental Health Act mandates that each Community Mental Health Board in the state:

• Review and evaluate community mental health services and facilities
• Plan for programs of community mental health services and facilities
• Consult with others regarding the most efficient delivery of services
• Appropriate funds to maintain mental health services and facilities

The Community Mental Health Board, Town of Oak Park sees its role in a larger context, however, than that presented in the Act. The Board realizes that it exists at the will of the community as expressed by passing the referendum. The Board therefore is mandated to assure on behalf of the community that those in need of mental health, developmental disability or substance abuse services will have those services available to them. To accomplish this task the Board must continuously engage in policy development focused on their governance of all access, quality and cost concerns for their constituency's behavioral healthcare needs.

"708 Board" or Community Mental Health Board is established by a community, municipality, or township for the purposes of planning and funding mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse services.

For full text of the Community Mental Health Act go to: 
MENTAL HEALTH (405 ILCS 20/) Community Mental Health Act

Mission

The purpose of the Community Mental Health Board (CMHB) is to:

• enhance the mental health and developmental potential of Oak Park residents
• establish an appropriate continuum of community support service
• manage local resources in a fiscally responsible manner.

Vision Statement

The Community Mental Health Board, Town of Oak Park shall provide leadership to develop a comprehensive array of community based services, which are cost-effective, systematically evaluated, and responsive to evolving community needs. This requires a flexible network of easily accessible services for the treatment and prevention of mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse.

In pursuit of this vision, the board endorses the following concepts:

• accessible, community focused network of care.

• development of a continuum of care, responsive to the community and the evolving needs of clients-children or adults.

• client centered approach to the provision of care provided in a coordinated fashion responsive to presenting issues of clients.

• providing choice within an array of community-based alternatives.

• services must offer the opportunity to build on clients’ strengths as well as their disabilities.

• improve the quality of life for Oak Park residents with disabilities.