Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced that, due to a partnership with Cook County Health (CCH), the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) has added behavioral health care coordinators to 18 HACC public housing communities. Due to federal funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), HACC behavioral health care coordinators will play a proactive role in ensuring that Housing Authority residents receive resources that foster mental health, physical health, and will also provide referrals to other healthcare resources when necessary. This includes case management, therapy/counseling, housing stability support and workforce development. The behavioral health initiative is funded with $5.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars allocated by the Cook County Board of Commissioners to be overseen by Cook County Health. Services are being provided by two behavioral healthcare organizations, Impact Behavioral Health Partners and Grand Prairie Services. Due to the vast size of Cook County and the number of HACC properties, Impact Behavioral Health Partners will provide services to residents in Northern Cook County while Grand Prairie Services will provide services to residents in Southern and Western Cook County. In 2021, 1 in 5 adults experienced mental illness and 1 in 3 teens reported poor mental health nationally. Mental health concerns impact every demographic, every age, every socioeconomic stratum. While mental illness is often treatable, some HACC residents face additional barriers to care.