Call for Applications for Milton Community Mental Health Board

MILTON TOWNSHIP, IL - Milton Township Supervisor John Monino announces an open call for applications for the inaugural 708 Community Health Board for Milton Township. There will be seven board members, including a Milton Township trustee liaison, with 2, 3 and 4-year board terms appointed. Applicants are asked to complete an application now available https://miltontownship.net/home/Board_content and to email their resumes to 708MiltonCMHBoard@gmail.com.

The township is seeking board members living in Milton Township with experience in mental health, substance use disorder, and developmental/intellectual disabilities. The board will review gaps in community services in those areas and allocate grants to organizations to serve those most in need in Milton Township.

Deadline to submit applications for the board is June 1st. An organizing committee will review all applications, and Milton Township Supervisor John Monino will appoint the new board in late June.

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Background
A 708 Board is named for the Illinois House of Representatives Resolution 708 that created a board structure to respond to the local mental health, substance use disorder, and developmental/intellectual disability needs of their communities. These volunteer boards are appointed by Township Supervisors, under the Illinois Community Mental Health Act (405 ILCS 20) and are accountable to the citizens of their community.

A ballot measure for a Community Mental Health Board in Milton Township was approved in the April, 2021 election. The measure was sought by Mental Health Boards for DuPage, a group of diverse community members, who worked to ensure sufficient signatures for inclusion on the ballot. The group was able to earn a broad range of bipartisan support in the township that led to the passage of the measure. “We are thrilled that we will be able to bring a variety of services to Milton Township residents, filling a deep need for the community.” said community leader Erica Nelson. “Work is already underway to begin to put the board structure together.”

Milton Township Supervisor, John Monino said “the Community Mental Health Board will showcase the benefit a township can bring to its residents. I am excited to help develop the inaugural board for Milton Township, seating professionals from Milton with deep experience in this area.”

Under the Illinois Community Mental Health Act, 80 Community Mental Health Boards have been created across Illinois. In addition to Milton Township’s newly-approved board, there is only one other 708 Board currently established in DuPage, a county of nearly one million residents.The other DuPage board is in Bloomingdale Township. The intent of the Milton Community Health Board is to better coordinate mental health services, increase access and reduce crisis interventions, taking costs out of the system.