Mission Statement

Revised 03/15/07

Mental Health Centers of Western Illinois has been organized to effectively and efficiently serve the behavioral healthcare needs of small and rural communities in Western Illinois.

The mission of the Mental Health Centers of Western Illinois is to enable individuals in need of services to achieve social, emotional, vocational and financial wellness.

In providing for the needs of a total comprehensive mental health facility, the Board assures that a broad array of effective and efficient mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse service options are available and accessible to all of the citizens of area counties. In planning for the future, Board actions are directed toward improving service options thereby enhancing the quality of life of citizens of our county. The Board has fundamental values that guide its actions:

•  To conduct the business of the Board with integrity, with social responsibility, and in the best interest of the citizens and taxpayers of local counties

•  To promote a full array of coordinated mental health service options based on an assessment of needs in order to make a positive difference in the mental health of residents of area counties

•  To provide leadership of a coordinated health services system with ongoing communications among providers, advocates, recipients, citizens, boards and funders

•  To expend funds to purchase necessary, effective and cost efficient equipment/supplies.

History

Revised 03/15/07

The Mental Health Centers of Western Illinois is a private, not-for-profit, voluntary corporation comprised of agencies that have been in the business of providing comprehensive mental health services since l969. The MHCWI is a "public charity" under section 50l (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code under which contributions are tax deductible. The agency is under the direction of a voluntary Board of Directors composed of residents from area counties. The Board of Directors works closely with the 708 and 377 Boards of Brown and Hancock which are responsible for the expenditure of local tax dollars generated through annual tax levies. The administration and operation of the agency is the responsibility of the Executive Director who is hired by the Board of Directors.

The Mental Health Centers of Western Illinois is supported by grants, contracts, local taxes, and client fees. The agency is primarily funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

MHCWI is an affiliate agency of the Mental Health Authority for West Central Illinois. A representative from the agency serves on the Mental Health Authority Board to insure that the needs of local services are presented and discussed.

The services offered through MHCWI are developed and operated to provide the most comprehensive mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services available within the financial limitations of the various funding sources. Efforts are continuous and prevailing in our attempts to provide quality services to the community.

CARF ACCREDITATION

Due to a mandate by the Department of Human Services, community mental health centers are required to be accredited. The agency chose CARF…The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities as the accrediting body. CARF has established standards in the following: Organizational Quality; Quality Improvement Systems; Accessibility, Health and Safety; and General and Specific Program areas. Based on the survey, agencies are awarded one of four accreditation outcomes: 3-Year Accreditation, 1-Year Accreditation, Provisional Accreditation, or Nonaccreditation.

The accreditation process has had a tremendous impact on the agency, programs, clients and personnel. Due to the commitment required to achieve accreditation, a new position, Quality Assurance Coordinator, was created to assist administrative personnel with the process.  

The first survey by CARF was completed in May 1998, for which the agency received a 1-Year Accreditation outcome for the Outpatient, Psychosocial Rehabilitation, and Community Housing Programs. The following year, CARF surveyors returned to find the agency had improved in its efforts to comply with the standards and awarded the agency a 3-Year Accreditation, the highest level achievable. 

For the past three years, the agency has continued to meet the accreditation standards established by CARF.  Two additional programs, Outpatient Substance Abuse and Case Management, were added for the survey in May 2002.  The agency again received a 3-Year Accreditation outcome for its efforts.

Many improvements have been implemented in all aspects associated with the agency, and staff will continue to maintain accreditation status by interpreting and implementing the standards established by CARF to insure that quality services are provided to individuals served.