(110 ILCS 185/65-25)

Sec. 65-25. Selection process.

(a) No later than 90 days after the effective date of this Act, the Board of Higher Education shall select a public institution of higher education, with input and assistance from the Division of Mental Health of the Department of Human Services, to administer the Behavioral Health Workforce Education Center of Illinois.

(b) The selection process shall articulate the principles of the Behavioral Health Workforce Education Center of Illinois, not inconsistent with this Act.

(c) The Board of Higher Education, with input and assistance from the Division of Mental Health of the Department of Human Services, shall make its selection of a public institution of higher education based on its ability and willingness to execute the following tasks:

(1) Convening academic institutions providing behavioral health education to:

(A) develop curricula to train future behavioral health professionals in evidence-based practices that meet the most urgent needs of Illinois' residents;

(B) build capacity to provide clinical training and supervision; and

(C) facilitate telehealth services to every region of the State.

(2) Functioning as a clearinghouse for research, education, and training efforts to identify and disseminate evidence-based practices across the State.

(3) Leveraging financial support from grants and social impact loan funds.

(4) Providing infrastructure to organize regional behavioral health education and outreach. As budgets allow, this shall include conference and training space, research and faculty staff time, telehealth, and distance learning equipment.

(5) Working with regional hubs that assess and serve the workforce needs of specific, well-defined regions and specialize in specific research and training areas, such as telehealth or mental health-criminal justice partnerships, for which the regional hub can serve as a statewide leader.

(d) The Board of Higher Education may adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement and administer this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-4, eff. 4-27-21.)