Community Mental Health Boards

12/6/23

Advocacy Continues After Bills Become Law

During the fall veto session, LWVIL supported important legislation to help preserve community mental health. Due to unnecessarily complex taxation wording in the Mental Health Act statute, the taxing authority of seven 708 Community Mental Health Boards that passed by referendum in the November 2022 election was at risk.

Thanks to efforts by mental health coalitions around the state, including LWVIL, SB0690 passed the general assembly and fixed the problem, allowing the new boards to secure the funding needed to implement the mental health board activities.

What are 708 Boards?

708 Community Mental Health Boards evaluate needs, allocate funds, and coordinate a comprehensive system of services for mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders in order to benefit the citizens of a township.

Governed by the Illinois Community Mental Health Act, 708 Boards are unique to Illinois. They can be created under any unit of government and must be voted into existence. 708 Board funding is created through a small local property tax, and services may only be utilized by area residents. Currently, there are over ninety such boards in Illinois.

These seven- to nine-member volunteer boards are appointed by the local government leader. Often, they are created by townships, and thus township supervisors appoint the board members.

More and more communities have created grassroots teams working on creating even more 708 Community Mental Health Boards! Look for these to be on the ballot in 2024 and 2025. Communities that we are aware of are Downers Grove, Palatine, York, Wayne and Winfield Townships. If you are aware of others and need support, please email us at issues@lwvil.org. For more information, visit AdvocateFor708.org.