October finds Stepping Stones of Rockford bursting with activity! Preparing for our upcoming CARF survey, taking part in Mental Illness Awareness Week, opening a new outpatient counseling center, and celebrating recent grants have us hopping. We are proud to share part of our October journey with you.

CARF Survey Scheduled for October 20-22, 2021. It's time for our three-year CARF survey! This time around, the Commission of Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) will employ a "distance survey" approach, using live stream video technology to complete interviews, take tours, review programs and check documentation. Can you say policies and procedures??!! One administrative surveyor and two program surveyors will complete their tasks as if they were here in person. Clients, staff and stakeholders are part of the effort. We look forward to celebrating our successes with CARF. To learn more about CARF, check out http://www.carf.org/home/

Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW): October 3-9, 2021. Each year, the first full week of October is dedicated to raising awareness about mental illness. Think of it as a national stigma-busting event! Despite ongoing efforts, stigma about mental illness remains pervasive. By sharing your story via social media, educating someone about mental illness or attending a special event, you are helping bust stigma. Awareness, compassion, advocacy, and education go a long, long way when it comes to building community for those with mental illness.

Stepping Stones of Rockford gives a big shout out to NAMI Northern Illinois for busting stigma, day in and day out… for scheduling free events… and, for inviting all of us to "be kind to your mind" for MIAW 2021. Thanks to NAMI Northern IL, MIAW activities include:

• October 3^rd: Free Family Day (Rockford YMCA). 9 AM-5 PM. Pre-registration Required. Rockriverymca.org/Yfreeday
• October 4^th: Food for Your Brain (OF St. Anthony Center). 12 PM. Pre-registration Required.                   
                        Tinyurl.com/naminibrainfood
• October 5^th: Path to Recovery (Zoom). 7 PM. Register to join the fun. tinyurl.com/pathtorecoverynamini
• October 6^th: A Silent Voice (Nordlof Center). 5:45 PM.
• October 7^th: Be Kind to Your Mind (Stateline Church). 6:30 PM. Tinyurl.com/bktymnamini
• October 8^th: Rally for Mental Health (Veterans Memorial Hall). Noon.

Don't miss the free community events dedicated to raising awareness during this stigma-busting week. Stop by City Hall of Rockford to enjoy the Stars of Light art show. In addition to City Hall, community partners for this year's MIAW include Wired Café, Katie's Cup, Velvet Robot, One Love Candle and Bath.

Need assistance with accommodations to take part in the activities? Please contact NAMI Northern Illinois by October 1, 2021 at 815.963.2470 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Therapists needed! Stepping Stones New Outpatient Counseling Center Set to Open! We don't even know where to begin when talking about this project—it's HUGE! Stepping Stones of Rockford is opening an Outpatient Counseling Center on Maray Drive in Rockford. Populations served will include children, youth, and adults with serious emotional disturbance (SED) and serious mental illnesses (SMI), especially those who have no other available mental health treatment providers within the area. This includes persons who have limited or no access to outpatient behavioral health services and limited or no insurance coverage or who have Medicaid/MCO. Compounding factors faced by persons served include incarceration and involvement with the courts; are at risk of psychiatric hospitalization; have history of failed linkage with outpatient mental health services; need residential services. As you can imagine, we need employees to make this a successful endeavor. We are hiring therapists and case managers. If you are interested in working at this new center, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

​Thank You, Rockford Cosmopolitan Club. Stepping Stones of Rockford expresses gratitude to the Rockford Cosmopolitan Club for their generous grant toward client safety at the agency. Funds provided will be used to purchase and install new smoke detectors and carbon monoxide units in client residences. We appreciate their assistance with this vital project and thank them for the chance to keep our clients safe! Did you know the Rockford Cosmos' is the largest chapter, internationally, with 200 members? Pretty impressive! Rockford Cosmos work tirelessly in fighting diabetes and bettering our community by providing service and support to worthwhile projects. Cosmopolitan Clubs around the world strive toward Unity of purpose, Service to the community and Action on the part of all members. Thank you for your service to our community and for helping us keeping clients as safe as possible.