Chicago Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers

08/28/2026

This is the ribbon cutting at the Kedzie Center in 2014, Chicago’s first community mental health center created through an Expanded Mental Health Services Program (EMHSP).

It came after years of organizing by residents and the Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers, and after passage of the Community Expanded Mental Health Services Act gave Chicago communities a way to vote to fund and govern mental health services locally.

North River was the first. In 2012, voters approved the program with 72.3% support, and the Kedzie Center opened two years later.

Since then, communities across Chicago have followed, including the West Side; Logan Square, Avondale, and Hermosa; Bronzeville; West Town–Humboldt Park; the Southeast Side; the Near Southwest Side; and Englewood–Greater Chatham.

What began as a fight to save mental health services became a model for community-funded, community-governed care. And that work is still going. The Coalition continues organizing to expand access, protect public mental health services, and help more communities have a real say in the care available in their neighborhoods.

Join us this Saturday, August 29th from 1-4pm for a community event to learn more about this history, the work happening now, and what comes next. And make sure you’re on our mailing list to stay connected.

08/28/2026

Hope to see you Saturday! Come by for activities, food, and connection. All welcome, kids free!

(Link in the comments)

08/16/2026

Throwback to 2016: What happens when a community gets the power to decide what care it needs?

On Chicago’s West Side, residents organized, gathered petitions, got a binding referendum on the ballot and 86% of voters said YES to funding community mental health services in their own neighborhoods.

That vote helped establish an Expanded Mental Health Services Program, or EMHSP: a community-led model that allows residents to create a local funding district, raise dedicated funds for mental health care, and help oversee the services those dollars support.

Those organizing efforts eventually helped make the Encompassing Center possible, which opened its doors on October 15, 2019.

That’s the idea at the heart of the Coalition’s work: mental health care shouldn’t simply be decided for communities. Residents should have a real voice in what services exist, how they’re funded, and how they serve the people who live there.

Nearly a decade later, that idea is still at the center of what we do.

Community-funded. Community-governed. Built around what neighbors actually need.

This is what community power can look like.

Learn more at saveourmentalhealth.org

08/16/2026

How’s this for a caption:

Chicago’s mental health care should reflect what communities actually need and residents should have a real say in making that happen.

Join the Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers on Saturday, August 29 from 1–4 PM at LoSAH Center of Hope / Centro de Esperanza for an afternoon of connection, community, and action to expand access to mental health services across Chicago.

For decades, the Coalition has helped residents organize around a simple but powerful idea: communities should have real authority over the care and resources brought into their neighborhoods.

Through Expanded Mental Health Services Programs (EMHSPs), residents can organize, vote, fund, and oversee community mental health centers built around local needs. It’s a model that puts decision-making power back in the hands of the people most impacted.

Come meet neighbors, organizers, families, future volunteers, and others who care about mental health access, public care, local democracy, and community-led solutions.

We’ll have:

* A panel with organizers
* Games, activities, and crafts
* Opportunities to connect with neighbors
* Ways to learn more about the Coalition and get involved locally

Whether you’ve been organizing for years or you’re just starting to wonder, “How can I do more?” this is a place to start.

Come learn, connect, and help build stronger, healthier, more connected communities.

Families are welcome, and kids enter free!

RSVP at the link in bio or saveourmentalhealth.org

07/13/2026

What would mental health care look like if communities had a real say in the services available to them?

Join the Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers on Saturday, August 29, from 1–4 PM at LoSAH Center of Hope / Centro de Esperanza for an afternoon of connection, learning, and community-powered action.

For decades, the Coalition has worked to expand access to public mental health care in Chicago by helping residents organize, vote, fund, and oversee community mental health centers built around local needs.

Come meet neighbors, organizers, young professionals, families, future volunteers, and others who care about mental health access, local democracy, and stronger communities.

The afternoon will include:
A panel with organizers
Games, crafts, and activities
Opportunities to meet neighbors and like-minded people
Ways to learn about the Coalition’s work
Clear next steps for getting involved locally

Whether you have years of organizing experience or are just beginning to ask, “How can I do more?” this is a place to start.

Details:
LoSAH Center of Hope / Centro de Esperanza
Saturday, August 29
1–4 PM
Families are welcome, and kids enter free!

Join us as we build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities together.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mental-health-matters-a-community-care-meet-greet-tickets-1993400695140

02/11/2025

Students at Highland Park High School have come up with a creative and entrepreneurial approach for addressing the ever so stigmatized issue of mental health in the Chicagoland area. On there behalf, we are happy to introduce to you all: Lighthearted Clothing Co.

"At Lighthearted Clothing Co. our mission is to raise awareness about teens, mental wellness, and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Through our minimalistic designed apparel, we strive to create a sense of belonging, inclusivity, and positivity as we have designs for everyone to wear."

The creators of Lighthearted Clothing Co. have graciously decided to donate a percentage of their revenue to the Chicago Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers so that we may continue to create mental health services for the people of Chicago.

Support the destigmatization of mental health and the creation of mental health services by supporting these young entrepreneurs. Purchase a shirt via the link below:

https://lightheartedclothingco.com/products/og-t-shirt

11/08/2024

The Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers is proud to announce that after 2 years of organizing efforts, over 17,000 signatures gathered, and 65,000 votes cast, residents of Englewood Greater-Chatham and the Near Southwest Side have voted to create two of the Coalition's Expanded Mental Health Services Programs (EMHSPs) for their respective areas. These EMHSPs will lead to two sustainably-funded mental health centers serving residents in perpetuity, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. The approval of these programs increases the total of EMHSPs to eight all across Chicago.

Voters in several South and Southwest side neighborhoods voted in favor of opening free mental health programs — and raising property taxes to fund them.

10/17/2024

“There’s always a need for these resources and, yet, there’s never enough of them.”

Isaac Aleman, one of the Coalition’s organizers, spoke with Francia Garcia Hernandez of Block Club Chicago about the referendums on the upcoming election ballot that would allow residents of Englewood - Greater Chatham (West Englewood, Englewood, Auburn Gresham, Chatham, Greater Grand Crossing, and Avalon Park) and the Near Southwest Side (Pilsen, Little Village, Bridgeport, McKinley Park, and Armour Square) to vote to create mental health services in their community that would be accessible to all residents in the area, regardless of immigration status, insurance status, or ability to pay.

Voters in several South and Southwest side neighborhoods are being asked if they support raising property taxes to fund mental health programs in their neighborhoods.

08/14/2024

Lead by the Coalition over the past two summers, our organizers, interns, and community leaders collectively gathered 17,388 signatures for two new programs in Englewood-Greater Chatham and the Near Southwest Side. On August 2nd, members of the Coalition submitted the petitions sheets to the Board of Elections to secure the place of the referenda that will allow members of these communities to vote to create their own Expanded Mental Health Services Programs!

The Coalition couldn’t be more proud of this record breaking signature drive that brings us closer to our goal of establishing two more mental health centers in Chicago that would provide services to residents regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

Support the Coalition’s work of expanding mental health health services across Chicago by donating via the link below or contact the Coalition’s Development Manager, Steven Snyder, to discuss other options for support.

https://www.saveourmentalhealth.org/donate

Steven Snyder, Development Manager | [email protected]

03/21/2023

Chicago Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers is partnering with the The Encompassing Center and Wintrust Bank Chicago to offer a FREE financial wellness and literacy course to the residents of the Near Westside, North Lawndale, and East and West Garfield Park.

Course facilitators:

Steve Peterson – MBA, Wall Street Investor and Manager of the Distressed Debt Fund and

Raphael Arteberry – Lead Community Organizer of the Coalition, and West Side Access Network Coordinator.

What are we learning:

A substantial and diverse collection of topics will be discussed such as mortgages, debt, credit repair, and bitcoin.

If you sign up, you will be issued a Wintrust bank account with a deposit of $100 on us!

Where and When:

Saturdays April 1, 2023 – May 20, 2023 | 9:00 am – 11:00 am

The Encompassing Center | 3019 W. Harrison, Street, Chicago, IL, 60612

How to Register:

Call: (312) 320-6363

Or visit: https://lnkd.in/g8BBhE3N

“Financial Health is Mental Wellness.”