Prairie State Wire

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative (CBHTI) have launched the BEACON care portal, a new resource for youth mental health services in Illinois. The portal aims to assist families by providing centralized access to state agency support and community-based programs.

"We have made behavioral health a priority of my administration - not just investing in affordability and accessibility but breaking down the stigmas associated with it," stated Governor JB Pritzker. He expressed gratitude towards the CBHTI team and six state agencies for their collaborative efforts.

Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton emphasized, "Mental health care is health care, and no family should struggle to find that support." Dr. Dana Weiner from CBHTI highlighted the portal's role in empowering families: "By giving parents and caregivers a single place to access information... we are empowering families to meet their own needs."

The portal provides information on available resources such as outpatient counseling, school-based services, wraparound services, or residential treatment options. It also facilitates communication with state agency representatives.

BEACON consolidates resources from several agencies including the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), State Board of Education (ISBE), Department of Public Health (IDPH), Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), and Juvenile Justice (IDJJ).

The initiative was developed through a partnership with Google Public Sector. It underwent a soft launch in fall 2024, receiving input from various stakeholders to refine its service.

Parents can use BEACON to obtain program listings or connect with Resource Coordinators who identify additional resources for children. In complex cases involving multiple agencies, Clinical Specialists coordinate necessary services.

Elizabeth Whitehorn from HFS described BEACON as "a critical new resource that will streamline access" while IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra praised it as an innovative step under Governor Pritzker's leadership.

Illinois DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller noted its potential impact on child welfare: "Empowering families with simple, real-time access... ensures no family has to enter the child welfare system simply because they have no other way."

State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders lauded its benefits for students: "This transformative platform... building a stronger system that empowers families." Robert Vickery from IDJJ emphasized its importance for youth rehabilitation within juvenile justice systems.

Dulce M. Quintero from IDHS looked forward to bridging gaps in behavioral health care while Dr. David Albert acknowledged unprecedented collaboration among state agencies involved in this initiative.

Sanjay Gupta commended collective efforts saying: "This modern portal greatly simplifies access... marks significant progress leveraging technology supporting children's mental well-being."

For more details about using BEACON visit beacon.illinois.gov.