Mental Health Board Awards $5 Million in Grants to Will County Organizations

The Will County Community Mental Health Board has distributed over $5 million in grants to 39 local organizations, marking the completion of its inaugural funding cycle since voters approved the mental health tax levy in 2022.

The Will County Community Mental Health Board announced Wednesday that it has awarded $5,015,282 in grants to 42 programs operated by 39 different agencies throughout the county, completing its first major funding cycle since the board’s establishment.

The grants, funded through a separate property tax levy approved by voters in November 2022, support programs across three key areas: mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and intellectual and developmental disabilities assistance.

“We’ve invited here today four of our grantees who can give you some information about their award,” said Teena Mackey, director of the Will County Community Mental Health Board, during her quarterly report to the county executive committee.

Among the featured recipients, Lincolnway Special Recreation Association received funding for a second sensory bus to serve individuals with disabilities across eight park districts including New Lenox, Mokena, Frankfort, Manhattan, Peotone, Wilmington and Crete. The organization already operates one sensory bus and serves residents aged two through adulthood.

Mental Health Matters, a program addressing financial barriers to counseling services, has already moved 25 Will County families off waiting lists into counseling services since receiving its April 15 award. The program helps families who cannot afford co-pays for therapy sessions, which can range from $30 to $50 per week.

The Wilmington Coalition received funding to support both middle school tobacco-free programs and high school mental health initiatives. Jessica Schnicker, representing the Coalition’s CAT crew (Community Action Team), told board members that Wilmington has limited mental health resources with only one provider accepting state insurance.

“Two kids have died from suicide attempts in Wilmington in the last three years, and they were people that I very much personally knew,” Schnicker said. “The more help we can get, the more it’s going to matter.”

The Hive Day Program in Mokena, which serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have aged out of school programs, also received funding. The program currently serves 36 members, with 80% being Will County residents, and has 16 people on its waiting list.

Mackey emphasized that the 708 board funding fills critical gaps in services, particularly for adults over 21 who face what families call “the cliff” when most funding programs end.

The mental health board’s next quarterly report is scheduled for September 11, 2025. A complete list of grant recipients and award amounts is available on the Will County Mental Health Board website.