Partners

The Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center is a joint initiative of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. The model is comprised of academic institutions that serve communities across the state.

The BHWC will coordinate with key state agencies involved in behavioral health, workforce development, and higher education to tap into diverse resources from health care, workforce, and economic development programs in Illinois government. These agencies will, at a minimum, include the state agencies, mental health providers, educational institutions (colleges, universities, K-12), workforce investment boards and other community-based organizations.

BHWC Leadership

Kari Wolf, MD

CEO of Behavioral Health Workforce Center and the Chair and Professor of the Department of Psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine will lead the main BHWC hub.

Sonya Leathers, PhD

Professor Leathers at Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) will lead the secondary hub.