Regional Behavioral Health Strategic Plan
A Shared Vision for Behavioral Health in Cook County
Building a more equitable, accessible, and coordinated behavioral health system—together.
In May 2025, the Cook County Health Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) released the Regional Behavioral Health Strategic Plan for Cook County—a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening behavioral health across the county.
Developed through extensive collaboration with healthcare providers, community organizations, government partners, people with lived expertise, patients, advocates, and residents, the Strategic Plan reflects our shared commitment to building a behavioral health system that is coordinated, responsive, resilient, and equitable.
Rather than serving as a static document, the Strategic Plan is a living framework that guides the OBH's initiatives, partnerships, investments, and collective action across Cook County.
Building the Plan Together
The Strategic Plan was informed by extensive community engagement and data-driven planning efforts across Cook County, including:
Cook County Behavioral Health Summit
Cook County Behavioral Health Community Needs Assessment
Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment
Regional Behavioral Health Forums
Countywide community engagement
Input from providers, government partners, community organizations, advocates, residents, and people with lived expertise
Together, these efforts identified the most pressing behavioral health challenges facing Cook County and informed strategies to strengthen behavioral health services, improve coordination, expand access, and reduce inequities across the system.
Five Strategic Priority Areas
The Strategic Plan focuses on five interconnected priorities that together create a stronger behavioral health system.
Systems Alignment
Connecting Systems. Improving Coordination. Strengthening Outcomes.
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Behavioral health services are most effective when prevention, treatment, recovery, crisis care, healthcare, and community supports work together as one coordinated system.
This priority focuses on reducing fragmentation, strengthening partnerships, aligning resources, and improving coordination through initiatives such as the Regional Behavioral Health Collaboratives, the Intergovernmental Advisory Group, and alignment with state and federal behavioral health initiatives.
Workforce Development
Building the Workforce Our Communities Need.
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A strong behavioral health system depends on a skilled, diverse, and representative workforce.
This priority focuses on strengthening career pathways, improving recruitment and retention, expanding apprenticeship and internship opportunities, supporting peer professionals, and partnering with educational institutions to build the next generation of behavioral health professionals.
Behavioral Health Services for Children, Youth, and Families
Supporting Young People Early. Strengthening Families for the Future.
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Early identification and intervention improve lifelong behavioral health outcomes.
This priority focuses on expanding school- and community-based behavioral health services, strengthening family supports, and ensuring children, youth, and families have timely access to care.
Access to Treatment, Support, and Recovery
Expanding Access Across the Continuum of Care.
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Every resident deserves timely access to quality behavioral health services.
This priority focuses on improving access to prevention, treatment, recovery supports, evidence-based practices, innovative care models, and coordinated services that support individuals throughout their recovery journey.
Crisis System Enhancement
Creating a Coordinated Crisis Care Continuum.
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Early identification and intervention improve lifelong behavioral health outcomes.
This priority focuses on expanding school- and community-based behavioral health services, strengthening family supports, and ensuring children, youth, and families have timely access to care.
Putting the Plan Into Action
The Strategic Plan guides the Office of Behavioral Health's work every day.
Through collaboration with community organizations, healthcare providers, governmental agencies, academic institutions, employers, residents, and people with lived expertise, OBH is advancing initiatives that turn strategy into meaningful action across Cook County.
Current initiatives include:
Measuring Progress
The Regional Behavioral Health Strategic Plan is a living framework, and implementation is an ongoing process. Annual Implementation Reports will provide updates on progress, accomplishments, and next steps in advancing the Strategic Plan across Cook County.
Download the Strategic Plan
Explore the full Strategic Plan or download a translated Executive Summary.
Strategic Plan
Executive Summary
Get Involved
Building a stronger behavioral health system requires collaboration from every sector.
Whether you are a community member, healthcare provider, community-based organization, educator, employer, advocate, researcher, governmental partner, or person with lived expertise, there are opportunities to help advance the Regional Behavioral Health Strategic Plan and improve behavioral health across Cook County.