[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded grants totaling $1,631,487 to help expand behavioral health education and training services at universities across Illinois. This funding will help expand the mental health services workforce, increase access to behavioral health care services for young people, and educate teachers and community members to recognize mental health issues in youth.

“This federal funding invests in resources to train new mental health providers who will care for young people struggling with behavioral or mental illnesses. It will also equip teachers and others with the tools they need to effectively identify and respond to mental health issues in youth, and fund school and community efforts to improve access mental health services,” Durbin said.

Under this announcement, the following universities in Illinois will receive funding through HHS’s Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training for Professionals and Paraprofessionals Program:

• Loyola University of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois): awarded $480,000 in funding;
   
• Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, Illinois): awarded $353,517 in funding;
   
• The Board of Trustees  at the University of Illinois (Chicago, Illinois): awarded $471,429 in funding and;
   
• University of St. Francis (Joliet, Illinois): awarded $326,541 in funding.