Peoria – The Peoria County Board recently awarded a contract to the Division of Health Policy & Social Science Research at the University of Illinois College of Medicine – Rockford to conduct a community mental health needs assessment in Peoria County. The Peoria City/County Health Department will be facilitating the assessment process, which is expected to be completed by October 2013.

In December 2011, the County Board appointed seven members of the general public to serve on the new Mental Health Advisory Committee, created to assess mental health services and needs in Peoria County. Based on a proposal through a Request for Qualifications, the Committee recommended the County Board conduct a community mental health needs assessment that will include interviews with professional experts in the mental health field, focus groups with consumers of mental health services, and input from the community at large.

Acting Peoria County Administrator Scott Sorrel explains, “The purpose of the assessment is to involve the community in examining local mental health services to help us gain a better understanding of unmet mental health needs. The assessment, to include a review of current mental health issues in our community as well as recommendations for future planning and programming, will result in one comprehensive document to guide community partners in addressing mental health issues in Peoria County.”

The assessment is partially funded by the Care & Treatment Board and the Peoria City/County Health Department. For more information on the Mental Health Needs Assessment, please contact County Administration at (309) 672-6056.