Monday, May 18, 2026
Submitted by Mike O’Donnell.
You play a vital role connecting older adults to the mental health services they need. Now, we invite you to join the Illinois Coalition on Mental Health and Aging to help turn your daily work into meaningful, statewide impact.
Every day, you see firsthand the growing needs of older adults. But meeting those needs requires both direct service and a strong, unified voice advocating for sustainable funding, a skilled workforce, and policies that support the people we serve. Your voice, combined with others across Illinois, can drive real change.
The need for advocacy has never been more urgent. Federal budget cuts and program changes are already impacting services, and without action, the gap will only widen. We cannot afford to be silent. When professionals, advocates, and community members stand together, we amplify our influence and protect the resources our communities depend on.
As a member of the Coalition, you will join a powerful network including:
- AgeGuide
- Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA)
- National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging (NCMHA)
- Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging (I4A)
- Illinois Aging Services, Inc.
- Illinois Cognitive Resources Network (ICRN)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Illinois
Membership also connects you to valuable training and continuing education through collaborations with the Rush Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging (E4 Center) and the NCMHA Learning Collaborative. We help you stay informed, engaged, and equipped to lead. Our annual meeting, on May 19th at 1pm, via Zoom will feature presentations on “Igniting the Fire: Expanding our Mental Health & Aging Advocates & Workforce.” Attend our bi-monthly meetings featuring presentations on timely topics, some of which qualify for Continuing Education (CE) credit.
Now is the time to act. Add your voice. Strengthen our impact. Shape the future of mental health and aging services in Illinois. To join us, visit our website: https://www.icmha.org/
