From Susan’s Desk
October 21, 2021
I’m proud and honored to share that this is the title of Josselyn’s recently awarded $5 million grant from SAMHSA (pronounced “Sam-suh”), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For a Community Mental Health Center, receiving a SAMHSA grant is the equivalent of an Olympic Gold Medal, Grammy or Nobel Prize.
In addition to providing funding to advance the federal government’s behavioral healthcare goals, SAMHSA gathers data on the most promising forms of treatment, called Evidence Based Practice (EBP.) EBP means abandoning outdated or ineffective practices and choosing methods that are scientifically validated to meet client needs. Healthcare workers who use EBP must be skilled at discerning the value of research for their clients. SAMHSA evaluated Josselyn’s clinical care and found it worthy of this $5 million federal grant. In other words, Josselyn just received the federal government’s endorsement for providing the highest quality care available.
This grant will allow us to treat 1000 more people over the next two years by hiring 40 additional clinicians. It provides funds for Josselyn to train our clinical staff in EBPs such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which is an EBT to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences. Because the pandemic has been especially hard on healthcare workers, this grant provides funding for a Josselyn Employee Assistant Program and staff wellness workshops and activities. It also will allow Josselyn to increase our capacity to help schools address student behavioral health issues. It’s one piece of the 2021 CARES act, which provides assistance in the wake of COVID-19’s ravages on America’s mental health, among other devistations.
“I applaud the Josselyn Center for Mental Health’s work and commitment to providing mental health for all and am proud they are in my district. I congratulate them on being awarded a $5 million federal grant from SAMHSA,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I know that these dollars will be well spent as the organization works to support and restore the delivery of mental health services that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This investment will also allow the Josselyn Center to continue operating on a basic but key principle: that everyone deserves quality care, close to home and loved ones, delivered with dignity and respect. Now more than ever, quality mental health services are a lifeline for Illinoisans trying to navigate the effects of the pandemic. We must continue to invest in these critical services and to uplift outstanding community organizations that meet people where they are.”
I’m so grateful for Rep. Schakowsky’s endorsement of our application, for the many staff members who put in weeks of work to write this grant, and for our experienced and talented clinical staff who will provide the care for the additional 1000 clients. It’s a true milestone for Josselyn, and another step towards achieving our vision of Mental health for all.
If you or a friend or family member could benefit from the support of a highly qualified mental healthcare expert, please call 847-441-5600 x 1 or get started here. Josselyn is truly dedicated to eradicating barriers to quality mental healthcare.
