Mental health center to open

Chicago-based nonprofit Envision Unlimited will be hosting a grand opening for its Springfield community mental health center, at 1306 S. Sixth St., Oct. 30. Services offered are geared toward people with mental health challenges and disabilities. The center will accept both Medicaid and Blue Cross patients.

Envision Unlimited already owns and operates the Hope Springs apartment complex at 1135 N. Ninth St. that provides supportive services to residents with developmental disabilities but this will be the first time the nonprofit has offered outpatient services in the state capital.

CEO Mark McHugh told Illinois Times the decision to open a location in Springfield was inspired by feedback from health care circles citing a demand for more mental health care providers in Springfield.

“We’ve been doing some developmental disability services in central Illinois for the past six or seven years that’s specifically in-home respite for families who have a child with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” he said. “We’re planning on expanding further south soon.”

The Springfield location will only offer services for adults, but can treat patients regardless of disability status.

Memorial Behavioral Health, 710 N. Eighth St., was the only community mental health center in Springfield prior to the opening of Envision Unlimited, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services office locator. 

The community mental health center operates as a hub for any qualifying patients to access therapists, telepsychiatry, a peer support specialist and – eventually – group therapy, said director of mental health and clinical services Whitley Hofer.

“A community mental health center is like a one-stop shop where individuals can receive therapy, psychiatry and support services,” Hofer said. “The first step is for someone to be referred, or to even walk in, and they will get an assessment done in which they will meet with the clinician (who) will assess their needs and, based upon their needs and where they’re at, will determine what their treatment looks like.”

Peer support is designed to help patients with planning for errands and tasks. 

“Our peer support specialist works with individuals when it comes to skill-building – just doing grocery shopping, budgeting, cleaning, laundry, those types of things,” Hofer said. 

“We also do psychiatric evaluation and medication management where an individual will come in (and) we have a room designated for clients to meet with our psychiatrist via telehealth.”

Hofer said the community health center is currently accepting patients insured through Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield but will be able to help anyone find nearby help, regardless of their insurance status or whether they are currently experiencing a mental health crisis. 

“We will also help individuals navigate accessing care if they don’t have Medicaid or private pay or private insurance,” she said.

Around 50,000 Sangamon County residents, about 5,000 of whom have disabilities, were enrolled in a Medicaid plan last fiscal year, according to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

McHugh said that more plans are in the works for Springfield.

Envision Unlimited had already been providing services for Hope Springs residents for years but, according to a publicly available audit, acquired Bluestem Housing Partners, which develops affordable housing projects statewide, in 2024.

Hope Springs, which provides 36 units of permanent supportive housing, was constructed in 2013. Envision Unlimited plans to renovate that apartment complex and break ground on a second apartment building, located nearby at 849 N. Ninth St., in April 2026. The Springfield City Council unanimously approved a zoning change in April to allow for the construction.  

Dilpreet Raju is a staff writer for Illinois Times and a Report for America corps member.

This article appears in October 23-29, 2025.