Trilogy News

CHICAGO, IL – Trilogy, a nonprofit community behavioral healthcare organization, is entering the final phase of its Breaking Down Walls for Mental Health campaign to fund the renovation of its new South Side Wellness Center in the Chatham neighborhood. With 95% of its $2.5M goal raised, the organization is calling on supporters for the remaining $125,000.  Once funded, Trilogy’s new 24,000-square-foot center at 8541 S. State Street will significantly expand mental healthcare access on the South Side. Trilogy’s Board of Directors has launched a coordinated two-week push encouraging the public to donate and share the campaign to broaden its reach between now and Trilogy Day on 3/3/26.

“Our goal to increase access to mental health is within reach,” said Kim Casey, Trilogy Board Chair.  “We’re now providing intensive community outreach, family and individual therapy, child and adolescent therapy, drop-in support services, and more. An array of services is now available to our South Side communities that have been left out of the mental health conversation for too long.” The center has been fully operational since fall, 2025, and services are available to people regardless of income or insurance status.

 “People on the South Side deserve more access to mental health resources,” said Susan Doig, Trilogy President & CEO. “We’re incredibly close to providing this fully funded resource to increase access in the community. With only $125,000 left to go, every donation makes a difference in this effort, and we’re calling on our community to help us finish strong.”  Supporters are encouraged to follow Trilogy on social media and share campaign posts leading up to Trilogy Day, the campaign’s final day of action on March 3, 2026, to close the remaining funding gap. Trilogy is on LinkedIn @Trilogy, Instagram @trilogychibhc, and Facebook @Trilogy, Inc.

About Trilogy Day 

Trilogy Day is intended to remind communities that mental health is essential to overall community wellbeing. It is a day to recognize and thank those who support and advance mental healthcare, and to elevate the stories and voices of individuals in recovery as well as those who support them throughout their journey, and to raise awareness that we all play a role in supporting mental healthcare in Chicago. Trilogy Day was first observed in 2025. 

About Trilogy

Trilogy is a nonprofit behavioral health organization providing comprehensive, integrated care that empowers people in recovery to build meaningful, independent lives. For nearly 55 years, Trilogy has supported individuals living with serious mental illnesses — including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and co-occurring substance use or homelessness. Every day, Trilogy delivers high-quality, community-based care to some of Chicago’s most marginalized residents. People seeking information about services are encouraged to call 773.382.4060 or email [email protected]. Learn more or support their work at TrilogyInc.org. 

Media inquiries:
[email protected]
773.837.2916 

Trilogy’s Mobile Crisis Team, resolving 92% of crises without police/EMS, now serves Lincoln Square, Jefferson Park & Edgebrook/Sauganash.

CHICAGO — Trilogy, a community-based nonprofit behavioral health organization, has expanded its Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) service area to include three additional Chicago communities – Lincoln Square (60625, 60657), Jefferson Park (60646), and Edgebrook/Sauganash (60646). The team will continue serving Chicago’s Rogers Park (60626,60645) Edgewater (60660), West Ridge (60659), and Uptown (60613,60640) communities, as well as Skokie (60076,60077) and Evanston (60201, 60202, 60203,60204, 60208 & 60209).

Trilogy’s MCR team, previously known as the First-response Alternative Crisis Team (FACT), provides immediate, on-site crisis intervention and follow-up care for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis that requires urgent support but is not life-threatening. Staffed by trained mental health clinicians and peer specialists (individuals with lived experience), MCR offers an effective alternative to calling 911 by emphasizing clinical interventions without the sirens or flashing lights that typically accompany an EMS or police response.

Launched in 2022 as part of a statewide initiative to expand clinical crisis response, the MCR team operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers are connected directly with trained clinicians who assess their needs and deploy an in-person response when necessary.

The program’s growth is driven by two factors. The first is the program’s strong outcomes. In the past year, Trilogy’s MCR team fielded more than 3,750 calls, supporting over 2,300 individuals across its service area. 92% of engagements were resolved without the need for 911 or police involvement. When the state identified a potential gap in crisis coverage, Trilogy was asked to step in. “Our community is asking us to do more because we’ve been able to meet their needs,” said Jenique Dean, Clinical Director.

The second factor that led to growth is Trilogy’s inclusion in the state of Illinois’ Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Demonstration period. CCBHCs are specially designated clinics that provide a comprehensive array of mental health and substance use services to individuals within the clinic’s service area, regardless of their insurance coverage or ability to pay.  “The Mobile Crisis Response team has become an integral part of the North Side’s crisis response infrastructure,” said Renae Schweers, Executive Clinical Director. “This expansion means that Trilogy is covering the entirety of our CCBHC service area, and then some.”  In addition to providing a more humane response to mental health crises, the program is also significantly more cost-effective than an EMS response, which can cost thousands of dollars and lead to additional unnecessary hospitalization costs.

“Trilogy is helping people through some of the toughest moments in their lives while reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and police contact,” added Dean.

Individuals experiencing a mental health crisis can call 800.322.8400 anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Individuals outside of Trilogy’s service areas are encouraged to call 988 for crisis response.

The expansion comes as Trilogy continues to increase access to behavioral healthcare citywide. Earlier this year, the organization opened its 24,000-square-foot Mental Wellness Center in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood on the South Side as well as a new therapy center on the Northwest Side.

About Trilogy

Trilogy is a nonprofit behavioral health organization providing comprehensive, integrated care that empowers people in recovery to build meaningful, independent lives. For nearly 55 years, Trilogy has supported individuals living with serious mental illnesses — including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and co-occurring substance use or homelessness. Every day, Trilogy delivers high-quality, community-based care to some of Chicago’s most marginalized residents. People seeking information about services are encouraged to call 773.382.4060 or email [email protected].

Learn more or support their work at TrilogyInc.org.

Media Inquiries:
[email protected]
773 837 2916

In the last year, Trilogy has increased access to care across the city. What’s next? We help people RISE. 

TRILOGY invites you to join us for the grand opening of our NEW Mental Wellness Center as we expand access to care on the South Side.

Thursday, September 18
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
8541 S. State St.
Chicago, IL 60619
RSVPs at [email protected] are appreciated but not required! We hope to see you there.

October 15, 2026

Trilogy’s RISE Gala will support Resources for Independence, Stability, and Empowerment (RISE), filling the critical gaps our clients face. Support mental health services and the communities that need them today. Join us!

Venue West
221 N Paulina St.
Chicago, IL 60612

Sponsorships, Tables and Tickets – Now Available!

Event Details
5:30 PM – VIP Cocktail Reception (ticket update required)
6:00 PM – Cocktails, Program & Dinner
Attire: Cocktail
Parking: Complimentary parking available

More Information Coming Soon.

Questions? Please contact [email protected].

Breaking Down Walls:
Trilogy’s gala to support mental health services, and the communities that need them. Join us!
October 24, 2024

Venue West
221 N Paulina St.
Chicago, IL 60612

Join us for an incredible evening and hear from prominent Chicago voices doing critical work in Breaking Down Walls for mental health!  

TRILOGY’s Partner in Recovery Award is presented to those who advance public understanding of mental health-related issues, work to reduce stigma around mental illness, and advocate for resources to support mental health. Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr., the recipient of the Partner in Recovery Award, is State Senator for the 17th District, which includes portions of the South Side of Chicago, Chicago’s South Suburbs, and Will and Kankakee counties.

This year’s Breaking Down Walls Keynote Speaker is Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, an urban historian, Chicago legend, and social media sensation who has garnered tens of millions of views on his TikTok channel and has appeared on The Today Show and The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Sponsorships, Tables and Tickets NOW AVAILABLE  

5:30PM: VIP Cocktail Reception presented by Integral Construction
6PM: Program and Dinner

Questions? Please contact [email protected].

More mental and behavioral healthcare is coming to Chicago’s South Side! Please join us on June 20 and June 26 to get a first-look preview of our new South Side Wellness Center, located at 8541 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60619, ahead of the grand opening later this summer.

Trilogy is committed to expanding access to high-quality mental and behavioral healthcare and addressing disparities in access to care on Chicago’s South Side. Please stand with us in this work!

Come check out our new mental health space that will provide a variety of services – including:

• A drop-in center that is an entry point for people to get a meal, a change of clothes, take a shower, and get connected to therapy
• Intensive outreach services that help people with serious mental illness stay out of jails and hospitals, and stay on the road to recovery
• Family, individual, and group therapy that will provide a variety of modalities (talk therapies like CBT/DBT, as well as EMDR and other approaches)
• Child and adolescent therapy that helps young people and teens access needed support early, when it will have the most impact  
• Case management, on-site pharmacy and general practice healthcare, best-in-class Supported Employment Program, and more

All services will be available to individuals regardless of their ability to pay.

We hope you can join us! RSVPs are appreciated but not required! Email [email protected]. Please follow us on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages to stay tuned.

Open House & Tours

Friday, June 20, 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Thursday, June 26, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

As the debate around cuts to Medicaid evolves by the minute, let’s remember that any cuts that limit access to care will be devastating to millions of people who need care most. Keep advocating!  In the spirit of this work, I’m sharing this article below.

Who Will Be Hurt by Medicaid Cuts? Everyone.  

Four Ways Medicaid Cuts Will Backfire.  

By Susan Doig, LCSW, LPHA, CADC   

Recently, we’ve seen numerous attacks on our social safety net, including the looming threat of Medicaid cuts. These cuts would erode a critical resource that millions depend on for their healthcare. While those most impacted would be our community’s most vulnerable — including people with serious mental illness, disabilities, and seniors — cuts will hurt all of us.  

Medicaid is lifeline and keeps people off the streets, out of ERs and jails. Tens of millions depend on the program, including more than 3M in Illinois. Many live with serious mental illness. Cuts will put millions in jeopardy and have a negative impact on every district in Illinois. Here’s what’s at stake if Medicaid is cut:   

Homelessness will increase.  Housing is healthcare. Medicaid funds many of the services that support people with disabilities to stay housed. People in recovery often need ongoing supports to remain stable once they have a roof over their head. ¹ Reducing Medicaid funding will jeopardize all of these elements in this fragile ecosystem, causing more individuals to become homeless.   

Hospitals, jails, prisons and nursing homes will be overcrowded. Some  facilities will close.  

Preventive care saves lives. It also cuts costs. Medicaid cuts would impede timely access to preventive care and medications people need to stay well. This means more preventable hospitalizations and more ER visits. In other states, Medicaid cuts triggered a 20% spike in ER visits, resulting in longer wait times for everyone.² In turn, institutional costs increase for hospitals, nursing homes and jails.   

It’s also been shown that Medicaid reduces recidivism, and that people released from jails who get access to the program are less likely to be re-incarcerated. ³ Losing Medicaid, on the other hand, increases incarceration.^4,5 Cuts to Medicaid will also force more people into nursing homes while at the same time increasing financial strain on these institutions, forcing many to reduce capacity or close entirely. ^6,7  More and more people will crowd these institutions, competing for an ever-dwindling supply of beds.   

Crime will increase. States that expanded Medicaid saw a 6% drop in violent crime and a 3% drop in property crime, according to Brookings. ⁸ It has also been proven that access to Medicaid reduces arrests, particularly drug-related arrests.  Why? Having access to care incentivizes people to seek treatment for substance-use issues. ¹³ Stripping these resources criminalizes substance use issues.  Providing treatment to those with substance use issues is flat-out more cost-effective than incarceration.   

First Responders will be burdened with more mental health calls. When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, they need mental health treatment. People with serious mental illness are more likely to come into contact with police when no alternatives are available.⁹  One in four police interactions involve people in mental health crises, and Medicaid cuts will increase this number.¹¹  

Communities that have invested in 24/7 mental health crisis intervention have seen real benefits. Trilogy’s Mobile Crisis Response team responded to 4,000 calls last year, and 95% of these calls were resolved without police or “flashing lights” on scene.¹⁰ This is important for many reasons, but notably, it saves police time and is more cost-effective than a police or EMT response.  

While mobile crisis teams may not receive direct funding from Medicaid, they are often integrated within community mental health organizations that rely heavily on Medicaid. Cuts to Medicaid will weaken the infrastructure supporting these teams and reduce their effectiveness. And when officers spend more time responding to mental health crises, they spend less time preventing crime.  

 Cutting Medicaid Will Cost Us More 

Investing in Medicaid SAVES money. Every $1 spent on Medicaid for inmates exiting prison saves $3 -$10 elsewhere, and short-sighted cuts will cost Illinois taxpayers and systems more¹². Medicaid cuts at ANY level put vulnerable community members at risk.  With MORE uninsured Illinoisans, state and local budgets will face higher healthcare costs, poorer public health, and greater economic instability.   

Needs in our community for mental and behavioral healthcare are skyrocketing. That’s why Trilogy is expanding to reach more people across Chicago, including our new site on the Northwest side and our South Side Wellness Center that will be opening fully soon. Now is NOT the time to cut services. Now is the time to make your voice heard. Contact your elected officials and tell them that Medicaid cuts will hurt all of us!

How you can help: Contact your representative today – there’s no time to wait!

You can find your elected representatives at elections.il.gov

or call the Hands Off Medicaid Hotline at 866-426-2631 to be connected to your representatives.

Below are suggested talking points that you can use to advocate:

Hello, my name is  (_____) and I live in (______). I am calling you today as a constituent to let you know that I’m deeply concerned about cuts to Medicaid and other essential programs. Medicaid is a lifeline and keeps people off the streets, out of ERs and jails. Cuts will put millions in jeopardy and have a negative impact on every district in Illinois.  Please vote NO on ALL Medicaid cuts in the reconciliation bill to protect your constituents.

References:

1. https://endhomelessness.org/blog/cutting-funding-for-medicaid-will-increase-homelessness  
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18420305/  
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8441351/  
4. www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w32227/w32227.pdf  
5. https://www.vera.org/news/trumps-medicaid-cuts-would-be-a-disaster-for-crime-and-safety#:~:text=Medicaid%20expansions%20also%20reduce%20the,through%20Medicaid%2C%20crime%20rates%20climb.  
6. https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/budzinski-medicaid-cuts-roundtable-alton-illinois-20233683.php  
7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2699923/  
8. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/new-evidence-that-access-to-health-care-reduces-crime/  
9. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness?utm_source=chatgpt.com  
10. Trilogy’s FACT/Mobile Crisis Unit field data   
11. https://www.nami.org/Advocacy/Policy-Practice/Advocacy-Updates/2020/Policing-and-Mental-Health  
12. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hec.4876  
13. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8754343/   

These words were shared with us by Keith, a TRILOGY client.

Support for our mission is critical to our ability to provide comprehensive mental healthcare to Keith and others like him – individuals living with mental illness and other barriers to stability.

Right now, the demand for mental health services is increasing. In response, TRILOGY is growing – and your support plays a key role in making it possible to expand services in Chicago. We’ve opened a new office on the Northwest side to provide therapy to families, as well as the intensive services that keep people out of hospitals and jails.

Soon, we’ll fully open our new South Side Wellness Center in Chatham, where we’ll provide an array of services for children, teens, and adults. This will be a needed, healing space for people like Keith.   

Donate today and support clients like Keith

“I have bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder,” says Keith. “I’ve been coming to Trilogy for years because they truly understand me as a person and support my recovery journey. I’m very open in talking about myself and my challenges because I want others who might be dealing with these issues to know they’re not alone. I want to share with others how Trilogy has helped me,” Keith says. “When it comes to my recovery, Trilogy puts me in charge. They don’t tell me what to do. They give me options. They show me that I can do it myself. 

“For years, I travelled to Trilogy’s Rogers Park location. I’m thrilled that they are getting more programs going on the South Side,” Keith says. “Now, I spend most of my days at their new drop-in center in Chatham. There are a lot of people here who need help. They’ll be happy to know Trilogy is here. Trilogy is like family to me. I’m so thankful to have them in my life.” 

Donate today and support clients like Keith

TRILOGY is here for people who need us, at no cost to them. Right now, your support is more important than ever because many of the health and human services that support our most vulnerable neighbors are under threat. But Trilogy is doubling down on our work to ensure that people who NEED help GET help. Trilogy has been serving communities and saving lives for over 50 years, and your support makes it possible for Trilogy to not just weather trying times, but to continue to grow and expand when our life-saving work is needed most.

Please make a donation to Trilogy today and show your support of our mission during Mental Health Awareness Month! Your tax deductible donation will help Keith and many others can continue their recovery journey. Your support at any level will help to sustain our work at this critical time– but we ask you to please give generously.

As the need for high-quality mental healthcare skyrockets, your support will help provide counseling and therapy, food, shelter, and essential wraparound services. Your support will save lives.

DONATE TODAY

Thank you!

Susan Doig, LCSW, LPHA, CADC 
President & CEO 

Community-based Service Provider Expands Access to Care, Kicks Off Mental Health Awareness Month with Ribbon-Cutting, remarks by Cook County President Preckwinkle, Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

CHICAGO – TRILOGY, a nonprofit community mental and behavioral healthcare organization, will host a Grand Opening/Open House event at its new office and program space in the Edgebrook community on Chicago’s Northwest Side. The event will take place on Friday, May 2 at 1:00 PM at 6200 N Hiawatha Ave.

Speakers include Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, State Representative Lindsey LaPointe, as well as a statement of purpose from Trilogy President and CEO Susan Doig.

This new location represents a major expansion of Trilogy’s services in a high-need area, allowing the organization to meet rising demand for accessible, community-based mental healthcare. With site intake and client services already underway, the Northwest-side space will serve as a hub for individual, group, and family therapy, as well as services for individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders. Trilogy will also offer supported employment services and intensive community outreach aimed at helping individuals remain stable in the community and avoid hospitalization or incarceration.​

The expansion is made possible in large part by a $1 million grant from Cook County Health’s Office of Behavioral Health through the Stronger Together Initiative. This initiative is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and administered by Cook County Government.

“Through these grants Cook County is demonstrating its commitment to building up our county’s mental health infrastructure at the neighborhood level,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “Organizations like Trilogy provide low-barrier, community based services that are critical to breaking down some of the walls that keep people from accessing care. Cook County is better thanks to the work they do.” 

“As health care providers, Cook County Health knows the importance of collaboration,” said Cook County Health CEO Dr. Erik Mikaitis. “I am thrilled that we are able to support organizations like Trilogy to improve the health of Cook County residents. This expansion helps to ensure people can get the care they need, when and where they need it.”

“The need for mental and behavioral healthcare continues to increase, and Trilogy is growing because we know we can do more to support more individuals and families,” said Susan Doig, LCSW, LPHA, CADC, TRILOGY President & CEO. “Grants like the Stronger Together Initiative, in addition to private dollars, make it possible for Trilogy to grow and serve more people,” says Doig. “The Cook County Health grant allows us to invest in new space, and helps us hire and onboard clinicians. It’s a catalyst for growing life-saving care and creates jobs in the community.”

Additional support has been provided by the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation and the Visiting Nurse Association Foundation.​

This event highlights a broader effort by Trilogy to expand access to essential mental health services across Chicago, with another new mental wellness center currently in development on the South Side in the Chatham neighborhood. Services at the new location are offered in Spanish and provided regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. The site is anticipated to serve hundreds of children, families, and adults at the new Northwest Side site in its first year.​  

Event Details:

TRILOGY
6200 N Hiawatha Ave, 4^th Floor
Chicago, IL 60646 ​

Friday, May 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM             

RSVPs appreciated for planning purposes but not required: [email protected]

People seeking information about services are encouraged to call 773.382.4060 or email [email protected]

About Trilogy
Trilogy is a nonprofit community mental healthcare organization providing comprehensive, integrated care that empowers people in mental health recovery to build meaningful, independent lives.

For over 50 years, Trilogy has supported individuals struggling with serious mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, depression, and other conditions, often alongside challenges such as substance use or homelessness.

In 2024, Trilogy served 3,300 clients across Chicago, delivering a full spectrum of mental and behavioral healthcare to some of the city’s most marginalized populations. Learn more at TrilogyInc.org

About Cook County Health
One of the largest public health systems in the nation, Cook County Health (CCH) serves as the safety-net for health care in Chicago and suburban Cook County. CCH is comprised of two hospitals, a robust network of more than a dozen community health centers, the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, the Cook County Department of Public Health, Correctional Health Services, which provides health care to individuals at the Cook County Jail and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, and CountyCare, a Medicaid managed care health plan. Through the health system and the health plan, CCH cares for more than 600,000 individuals each year, and its physicians are experts in their fields, committed to providing their patients with comprehensive, compassionate and cutting-edge care. Today, CCH is transforming the provision of health care in Cook County by promoting community-based primary and preventive care, growing an innovative, collaborative health plan and enhancing the patient experience. 

About Cook County Government
Cook County is the second largest county in the United States representing 5.2 million residents in Illinois. The President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cook County and oversees the Offices Under the President and presides as president of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

Media Contact
Jeff Fenwick, Trilogy
[email protected]
Text or call: 773.837.2916