Dundee Township Mental Health Board

04/10/2026

Registered voters of Dundee Township: Please come to the Annual Town Meeting next Tuesday at 7pm on April 14th, at the Rakow Center Park District building located at 665 Barrington Ave., Carpentersville.

TWO agenda items are up for advisory vote;

1) A motion urging Supervisor Shah to appoint Dr. Michele Wright, Dawn Arimura and Amber Cotter, three local, mental health professionals, to the Mental Health Board (MHB) so
grants can be applied to Ecker Center for Behavioral Health , Association for Individual Development , Family Service Association of Greater Elgin Area, Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley, Mathers Clinic, The Center for Counseling Services, Brightpoint Child & Family Center in Carpentersville, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Stronger Therapeutic Counseling Services, Inc.. Three of the Mental Health Board seats have been vacant since last December. The board is unable to award grants, hire an administrator and function due to the lack of a quorum.

2) A motion to support House Bill 4616 changing the nomination rules for Mental Health Boards. Currently only the Supervisor (or presiding official) can nominate candidates. HB 4616 will allow Township Board (or governing board) members to nominate candidates for the Mental Health Board which are then voted on by the governing board.

The MHB is responsible for distributing hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to local mental health agencies to provide services for our residents. Mental Health Board Members should have professional backgrounds and experience to effectively evaluate grant applications and understand the impact of programs implemented.

Anything you can do to get people to come and support these two motions will help our residents.

Thank you, Sue Harney
President Pro Tempore Dundee 708 Mental Health Board
Dundee Township Trustee
Dundee Township Supervisor, Retired

04/03/2026

The Dundee Township Mental Health Board will not meet on Thursday, April 9th, 2026 due to lack of quorum.

03/11/2026

The Dundee Township Mental Health Board is meeting on March 12th at 7:30pm at 611 East Main Street, East Dundee, IL.

All are welcome to attend.

Prior to the Regular Meeting of the Board an Ad Hoc Work Plan and Funding Agreement Committee will meet at 7:00pm to discuss proposed 2026 Work Plans.

03/02/2026

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM), an annual campaign led by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) to promote inclusion, community, and the contributions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It focuses on removing barriers to create a more inclusive world and highlights the need for equal opportunities in education, employment, and daily life.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! 💙 It’s a time to celebrate the contributions, achievements, and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in our communities. First established in 1987 by The Arc of the United States this national observance reminds us how important it is to create opportunities for people of all abilities to live, work, and thrive.

All month long, advocates, families, and organizations are raising awareness, sharing stories, and breaking down barriers. From inclusive employment to accessible housing and meaningful connections, inclusion makes our communities stronger for everyone.

Join us in learning, uplifting voices, and supporting initiatives that build a more welcoming and inclusive world.

02/27/2026

The Dundee Township Mental Health Board is governed by the The Community Mental health Act of 1963. The referendum to establish the Dundee Township Mental Health Board was approved by voters during the March 17, 2020, General Primary Election.

At no time has a board member of the Dundee Township Mental Health Board been an employee, agent, contractor, controlling interest or Board Member for any of the DTMHB grant recipient mental health providers.

The law clearly states,

'No member of the community mental health board may be a full-time or part-time employee of the Department of Human Services or a board member, employee or any other individual receiving compensation from any facility or service operating under contract to the board'.

None of the current board candidates who were interviewed and recommended to the Supervisor were formerly (or currently) affiliated with grant recipients.

A 708 mental health board should include mental health professionals to ensure that funding and strategic planning are based on expert knowledge of community needs, evidence-based practices, and effective service delivery for mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse. Professionals provide crucial expertise to evaluate local needs, monitor quality care, and identify service gaps, ensuring tax dollars are used effectively.

Key reasons for including mental health professionals include:

Evidence-Based Decisions: They bring expertise in evaluating, planning, and implementing, which ensures that funded programs are effective and scientifically sound.

Needs Assessment: Professionals help identify and prioritize the most critical mental health gaps in the community.

Program Monitoring: They help monitor the quality of services provided by agencies receiving funding.

Strategic Planning: They assist in developing comprehensive one-year and three-year plans, ensuring that the board’s goals are aligned with current best practices.

Targeted Support: They ensure funding is directed toward initiatives that best reduce stigma and improve accessibility, such as hiring additional therapists or addressing specific developmental disabilities.

Including professionals ensures the board has the necessary technical expertise to complement the perspectives of community members and individuals with lived experience.

1410 Radio

Send a message to learn more

02/27/2026

The Dundee Township Mental Health Board (DTMHB) has had a variety of Community Surveys and Needs Assessments conducted since 2023. You can view them here; https://dundeetownship.org/708_board/resources.php

A contrast of the 2023 and 2025 Surveys highlighting the differences in how the community perceives access to mental healthcare services in Dundee Township, and the opinions of the mental healthcare needs by 500 members in our Township. The results of the 2025 survey showed improvements in awareness of community service providers, access to care and knowledge of the DTMHB, over the last two years.

We'd like to thank DTMHB Member Ray Auger for creating this helpful comparison.

02/18/2026

Riverside Township's 'The Kids Are NOT Alright' presentation this coming Saturday is just one example of the types of events a 708 Board can sponsor to educate the community and connect residents to Mental Health services.

02/13/2026

Eating Disorders are Mental Health issues. Follow the links here for more information about how to identify and get help.

02/12/2026

988 or 911? Key differences in the support they offer is important to know.

02/06/2026

The Dundee Township Mental Health Board was unable to convene last evening's Special Meeting for Bill Payment due to lack of quorum.

The Dundee Township Mental Health Board is scheduled to meet again on Thursday, February 12th at 7:00 p.m. at the Township location 611 Main Street, East Dundee, IL.

Send a message to learn more

02/05/2026

Do you know about the 988 Su***de and Crisis Lifeline? Take a 2-minute survey: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/x4y48FI