Will Grundy Medical Clinic announced a partnership with the Will County Regional Mental Health Board for targeted behavioral health assessments.
The assessment will be conducted by WGMC’s Equity Institute and will specifically examine mental and behavioral health, substance use and developmental disability needs, disparities in care, and local policies and impacts in Will County. The plan will run through April 2024, and in May 2024, a comprehensive needs assessment report will be prepared to determine the future of behavioral health in Will County as it impacts safety net organizations and the vulnerable populations they serve. Provide information on policies and initiatives.
The University of Illinois at Chicago and Will County MAPP Collaborators will provide support for this four-pronged evaluation. This relates to mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disorders and includes community-driven data assessments, assessments of behavioral health organizations, health status assessments based on validated local, state, and federal data sources, and stakeholder Includes prioritization.
The study area includes Joliet, Wilmington/Braidwood, Essex, Plainfield/Bolingbrook, and University Park/Beecher, and includes an assessment of access and use among residents, barriers to use, system framework and activity level. Includes reporting on the provision of essential services. Comprehensive population health outcomes related to DSM-V diagnosis and treatment.
WGMC Executive Director Sean Marconi said stronger support for behavioral health programs in Will County is needed. According to the 2023 County Health Rankings, counties will need to nearly double the number of behavioral health providers. There are only 645 mental health providers, and the patient-to-provider ratio is 1,010:1, compared to 370:1 in Illinois and 560:1 nationally. Resources in Will County are limited for hospitalization for mental disorders and inpatient/outpatient treatment for substance use disorders. If these issues are not addressed, Will County’s health care infrastructure will face significant strain.
“According to research conducted and published in JAMA Network, failing to address public health equity in America costs the United States approximately $1 trillion annually,” said Nicole, director of data and quality at WGMC. T. Garrett MPH says. “As the United States’ debt, which currently accounts for one-third of Japan’s total GDP, increases further, the burden of medical costs will increase, and the impact on our economy will continue to grow exponentially. It will continue to have an impact.”
WGMC and WCCMHB believe this assessment will allow for more nuanced discussions and focused efforts to address the mental health needs of Will County residents.
