On May 4, 2022, the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board (WCCMHB) announced programs awarded "New Mental Health Programs" funding via the Half-Cent Sales Tax. Stepping Stones of Rockford is excited to be a recipient of funding for Program Year 2022-2023!

Stepping Stones of Rockford will utilize the $500,000 awarded as means of expanding availability for supervised housing for the targeted population of adults with serious mental illness (SMI). This fits right in with the mission, vision and history of Stepping Stones, as supervised, residential services are where it all started. An overview of current supervised and supporting residential services at Stepping Stones can be found HERE.

The expansion opportunity is part of the second round of funding from WCCMHB, with allocation for the second round of awards totalling more than $6.6 million dollars. The total amount of funding provided for Program Year 2022-2023 is more than $14.6 million dollars. Wow! 

We can't thank the WCCMHB and the voters of Winnebago County enough. You are making a profound difference for adults with serious mental illness who need residential mental health services in the county. 

In case you don't know, Stepping Stones of Rockford's Counseling Center was made possible via the half-cent sales tax, too: "Stepping Stones Outpatient Counseling Center provides compassionate, trauma-informed, value-based community mental health services to individuals and families facing mental and behavioral health barriers in Winnebago County. Mental Health Treatment Services and Case Management offered at the Center expand and enhance mental health recovery options in Winnebago County. The goal is to provide children, adolescents and adults with serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbances with Mental Health Treatment including Diagnostic Evaluation, Supportive Counseling, Medication Management and Case Management services in an individual, group or family setting." 

For additional information on the Stepping Stones Counseling Center please click HERE.

To read the complete May 4 2022 Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board press release regarding the funded proposals, please click HERE.

ABOUT WCCMHB – The purpose of the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board (WCCMHB) is to plan, implement, and monitor a system of mental health and addiction services for Winnebago County residents suffering from serious mental illness and addictions. WCCMHB distributes sales tax proceeds to provide services to individuals whose illnesses prevent their functioning in age-appropriate social roles. The use of clinical, evidence-based practices allows individuals with serious mental illness and addictions to remain in the community while accessing their care needs. 

ABOUT RPC – Region 1 Planning Council is a special-purpose, regional government agency providing cross jurisdictional, government-to-government collaborative planning for Northern Illinois. The regional planning model provides an efficient means to promoting a well-informed, comprehensive dialogue that holistically addresses regional issues by fulfilling the needs of government entities for long-range planning, securing funding, and analyzing and providing data in support of regional projects and initiatives. The Region 1 Planning Council provides staff support to the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board.

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