Business Details
13 Years
experience
Advocating for Mental Health Parity in Illinois
Founded in 2013, our organization champions mental health and addiction treatment parity through policy advocacy, community engagement, and education. We spearheaded Illinois' strongest state parity law, trained thousands in mental health awareness, and developed the Connect App to streamline access to care. Our work unites stakeholders across sectors to dismantle systemic stigma, improve care access, and promote workplace wellness.With over 3,000 stakeholders and 10,000+ engaged in stigma-busting dialogues, we drive systemic change through public forums, evidence-based training programs, and strategic partnerships like our On The Table initiative. Our Illinois Parity Implementation Coalition advances policy compliance, while our Issue Briefs inform legislative action to address reimbursement barriers for treatment providers.
Services
Mental Health Advocacy
Parity Policy Reform
Community Training Programs
Connect App Development
Workplace Wellness Initiatives
Details
- Year established: 2013
Highlights and features
- We passed Illinois' strongest state parity law to combat mental health discrimination
- Trained 3,500+ Chicagoans in mental health awareness and crisis intervention
- Developed the Connect App with 300+ Chicago mental health resources
- Hosted 5 annual convenings engaging 4,500+ stakeholders across sectors
- Created IL Parity Implementation Coalition with 25+ organizations advancing policy compliance
Services
Mental Health Advocacy
We advocate for systemic mental health policy changes at state and local levels. Our efforts focus on enforcing parity laws, improving insurance coverage, and eliminating discrimination against mental health and substance use disorders through legislative action and coalition-building.
Community Training Programs
Our evidence-based training programs equip communities with mental health awareness skills. We provide Mental Health First Aid certification, crisis intervention training for police, and workplace wellness education to over 5,000 individuals annually, fostering supportive environments across Illinois.
Connect App Development
This digital tool connects Chicago residents with 300+ mental health resources, offering filters by location, age, and service type. The app streamlines care access by providing critical information about providers, payment options, and eligibility requirements while reducing clinician referral time by 30 minutes per case.
On The Table Initiative
This program facilitates community conversations about mental health through structured forums. Partnering with Chicago Community Trust, we've engaged 10,000+ participants in stigma-busting discussions that promote understanding and create support networks across diverse populations.
Workplace Wellness Programs
We help organizations implement mental health-friendly workplace cultures through customized training programs. Our initiatives address stress management, employee support systems, and creating psychologically safe work environments that improve productivity and reduce healthcare costs by 15%.
People
Patrick Kennedy
Founder
Former Congressman and mental health advocate who launched The Kennedy Forum Illinois in 2013. Author of the federal Parity Law, he brings personal experience and legislative expertise to drive systemic mental health reform.
Peter OBrien
Illinois Founder
Motivated by personal experience, he established the Illinois chapter after attending the national Kennedy Forum. Leads stakeholder engagement efforts and coordinates policy implementation across 25+ coalition organizations.
Elizabeth Evans
Contact Representative
Primary point of contact for organizational inquiries. Manages external communications and coordinates program implementation efforts across all The Kennedy Forum Illinois initiatives.
Questions
What is The The Kennedy Forum Illinois' primary mission?
We work to end mental health stigma and ensure equal access to treatment through policy reform, community education, and technology solutions that improve care access across Illinois.
How does the Connect App help mental health patients?
The Connect App provides Chicago residents with instant access to 300+ mental health resources, including provider directories, payment information, and crisis support options through an easy-to-use digital platform.
What training programs do you offer?
We provide Mental Health First Aid certification, crisis intervention training for law enforcement, and workplace wellness programs that have trained over 5,000 individuals in mental health support strategies.
How can businesses partner with your organization?
Companies can collaborate through our workplace wellness programs, participate in stigma-busting initiatives, or support expansion of the Connect App's statewide service listings.
What policy achievements have you accomplished?
We successfully passed Illinois' strongest state parity law, established the IL Parity Implementation Coalition, and conducted legislative hearings to improve mental health treatment reimbursement practices.
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