homeWhat is Project ACCESS?
Project ACCESS is a coalition of mental health service providers, community organizations, and social service agencies which has come together in a coordinated effort to improve access to mental health services to populations in Champaign County which are currently underserved in the area of mental health.
Project ACCESS traces its roots to early in 2002 when the Champaign County Mental Health Board brought Dr. Harry Shallcross, a nationally-recognized expert in mental health systems planning to evaluate the mental health service system for children and youth in Champaign County. Project ACCESS became an organized body in the fall of 2004 with the formation of the service access committee. In the spring of 2005, a federal grant to fund Project ACCESS was sumbitted to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) by the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Mental Health (IDHS/DMH). While this grant application was unsuccessful, Project ACCESS is committed to the development of a system of care in Champaign County and plans to reapply for the SAMHSA grant when the next application cycle begins. In 2006, Harry Shallcross returned as a consultant to Champaign County. His consultation report focused upon readiness for systems of care implementation and progress within the county since his last report. Currently, Project ACCESS is developing a pilot program to work with justice system-involved youth under a grant from the Champaign County Mental Health Board.
Mission Statement
The mission of Project ACCESS is to build a culturally-inclusive collaboration of individuals, agencies, and organizations in Champaign County dedicated to promoting healthy families, strong communities, and an environment which fosters the well-being of children and youth - with a particular emphasis upon those from traditionally-underserved populations - so that they can achieve emotional, social, and academic success.
Partners
Project ACCESS works closely with the Champaign County Mental Health Board, the Juvenile Detention Center, and Juvenile Probation. Project ACCESS partners include the Champaign-Urbana Area Project, Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club, Mahomet Area Youth Club, the Mental Health Center of Champaign County, Prairie Center Health Systems, Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, TALKS mentoring, and others.